<p>With a number of events lined up across the nation, India will be celebrating the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mahatma-gandhi-the-champion-of-non-violent-activism-253152">150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today</a>.<br />
<br />
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended its Gandhi Sankalp Yatra by a period of three months, according to a circular issued to the party leaders.<br />
<br />
As per the circular sent to the leaders, the Yatra will now be a 120-day exercise and will end on January 31, 2020, instead of October. Earlier, it was scheduled to be held between October 2 and 31. Under this, the BJP is planning to propagate Gandhi`s ideals and principles of non-violence, Swaraj and simplicity to mark his 150th birth anniversary. Posters, banners and kits for the programmes to be held during the yatra will be directly sent to the state units from the party headquarters.<br />
<br />
According to the circular, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick-off this programme from Gujarat, simultaneously, with the other top leaders from the party who will start it from the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. All the party`s Lok Sabha MPs have been instructed to be in their respective constituencies on October 2 for the start of the programme. Prime Minister Modi will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Later in the day, he will also visit Sabarmati Ashram and participate in Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019 programme, according to a post on the official Twitter handle of BJP.</p>

<p>Earlier,&nbsp;Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that India has almost achieved the open defecation free (ODF) target and hoped that Prime Minister will declare India open defecation free today. On Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind said that the people of India have paid homage to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by taking up the Swachh Bharat Mission as a movement.</p>

<p>"By taking up the `Swachh Bharat Mission` as a movement, the people of India have paid homage to the father of the nation. Our nation`s emphasis on inclusive growth, transparency and honesty in public life, health-care support to the poor and farmers and effective utilization of water resources is in keeping with his thoughts," Kovind said.</p>

<p>BJP president Amit Shah will launch the ruling party`s `Gandhi Sankalp Yatra` in New Delhi. On the other hand, Congress will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today by taking out "padyatras" across the country with senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi taking part in the march in New Delhi. The march in the national capital will start from Delhi Pradesh Congress office and culminate at Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.</p>

<p>Later, Congress President Sonia Gandhi will administer an oath to leaders and workers "to redeem Gandhi, Gandhism and Gandhi`s India". Besides this, there are several events lined up to take place across the country. To mark the special occasion, AIM, NITI Aayog`s Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and UNICEF India, including Generation Unlimited, have launched `The Gandhian Challenge`.</p>

<p>This innovation challenge provides a platform for every child across India to ideate innovative solutions for a sustainable India of their dreams, using Gandhi`s principles. The winners of `The Gandhian Challenge` will be awarded in New Delhi by NITI Aayog`s Atal Innovation Mission and UNICEF on the occasion of Children`s Day in November. Several photo exhibitions have been organised in different cities to mark Mahatma Gandhi`s 150th birth anniversary.</p>

<p>Vistara is celebrating the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mahatma-gandhi-150th-anniversary-of-satyagrahas-heirloom-253166">150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi</a> in a unique way with customers aboard select flights on October 2. They will be invited to be part of the airline`s initiative `BE THE CHANGE @ 30,000 FEET` and write about a social change that they feel passionately about on a simple postcard, as per a company release.</p>


With a number of events lined up across the nation, India will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended its Gandhi Sankalp Yatra by a period of three months, according to a circular issued to the party leaders.

With a number of events lined up across the nation, India will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended its Gandhi Sankalp Yatra by a period of three months, according to a circular issued to the party leaders. As per the circular sent to the leaders, the Yatra will now be a 120-day exercise and will end on January 31, 2020, instead of October. Earlier, it was scheduled to be held between October 2 and 31. Under this, the BJP is planning to propagate Gandhi`s ideals and principles of non-violence, Swaraj and simplicity to mark his 150th birth anniversary. Posters, banners and kits for the programmes to be held during the yatra will be directly sent to the state units from the party headquarters. According to the circular, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick-off this programme from Gujarat, simultaneously, with the other top leaders from the party who will start it from the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. All the party`s Lok Sabha MPs have been instructed to be in their respective constituencies on October 2 for the start of the programme. Prime Minister Modi will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Later in the day, he will also visit Sabarmati Ashram and participate in Swachh Bharat Diwas 2019 programme, according to a post on the official Twitter handle of BJP. Earlier, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that India has almost achieved the open defecation free (ODF) target and hoped that Prime Minister will declare India open defecation free today. On Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind said that the people of India have paid homage to father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by taking up the Swachh Bharat Mission as a movement. "By taking up the `Swachh Bharat Mission` as a movement, the people of India have paid homage to the father of the nation. Our nation`s emphasis on inclusive growth, transparency and honesty in public life, health-care support to the poor and farmers and effective utilization of water resources is in keeping with his thoughts," Kovind said. BJP president Amit Shah will launch the ruling party`s `Gandhi Sankalp Yatra` in New Delhi. On the other hand, Congress will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today by taking out "padyatras" across the country with senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi taking part in the march in New Delhi. The march in the national capital will start from Delhi Pradesh Congress office and culminate at Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Later, Congress President Sonia Gandhi will administer an oath to leaders and workers "to redeem Gandhi, Gandhism and Gandhi`s India". Besides this, there are several events lined up to take place across the country. To mark the special occasion, AIM, NITI Aayog`s Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and UNICEF India, including Generation Unlimited, have launched `The Gandhian Challenge`. This innovation challenge provides a platform for every child across India to ideate innovative solutions for a sustainable India of their dreams, using Gandhi`s principles. The winners of `The Gandhian Challenge` will be awarded in New Delhi by NITI Aayog`s Atal Innovation Mission and UNICEF on the occasion of Children`s Day in November. Several photo exhibitions have been organised in different cities to mark Mahatma Gandhi`s 150th birth anniversary. Vistara is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in a unique way with customers aboard select flights on October 2. They will be invited to be part of the airline`s initiative `BE THE CHANGE @ 30,000 FEET` and write about a social change that they feel passionately about on a simple postcard, as per a company release.

India celebrates 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today

<p>If there is any government that will accomplish Mahatma Gandhi`s dream of Swachh Bharat, it will be our government, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Wednesday while addressing a function.</p>

<p>"During Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, Gandhi united the farmers and also gave them the message of cleanliness. If there is any Prime Minister who will fulfil his vision of Swachhta, that is Prime Minister Modi. If there is anyone that will fulfil his dream of Swachh Bharat, it will be our BJP government," Singh said.</p>

<p>"Our Prime Minister talks about progressing the nation ahead while taking everyone along. On that, he even gave the slogan 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'. Thus, our government is on the path laid out by Gandhi," he added.</p>

<p>Singh further stated that one can learn about the towering personality of Gandhi after looking at leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela, who were themselves inspired by him.</p>

<p>"We have heard about Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela. They are huge personalities but both said that they derived their inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi without ever meeting him. Such was the stature of the Father of our Nation," he said.</p>

<p>Singh further appealed to those present at the event to work together to fulfil Gandhi`s dream of India.</p>

<p>"He was fighting to win freedom for India but, along with fighting for freedom, Gandhi constantly used to think how will India of our dreams look like after freedom is achieved?" he said.</p>

<p>"Today, we should all take a pledge that we will only rest after we achieve India of Mahatma Gandhi`s dreams," he added.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


If there is any government that will accomplish Mahatma Gandhi`s dream of Swachh Bharat, it will be our government, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Wednesday while addressing a function.

If there is any government that will accomplish Mahatma Gandhi`s dream of Swachh Bharat, it will be our government, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated on Wednesday while addressing a function. "During Champaran Satyagraha in 1917, Gandhi united the farmers and also gave them the message of cleanliness. If there is any Prime Minister who will fulfil his vision of Swachhta, that is Prime Minister Modi. If there is anyone that will fulfil his dream of Swachh Bharat, it will be our BJP government," Singh said. "Our Prime Minister talks about progressing the nation ahead while taking everyone along. On that, he even gave the slogan 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas'. Thus, our government is on the path laid out by Gandhi," he added. Singh further stated that one can learn about the towering personality of Gandhi after looking at leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela, who were themselves inspired by him. "We have heard about Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela. They are huge personalities but both said that they derived their inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi without ever meeting him. Such was the stature of the Father of our Nation," he said. Singh further appealed to those present at the event to work together to fulfil Gandhi`s dream of India. "He was fighting to win freedom for India but, along with fighting for freedom, Gandhi constantly used to think how will India of our dreams look like after freedom is achieved?" he said. "Today, we should all take a pledge that we will only rest after we achieve India of Mahatma Gandhi`s dreams," he added.

Our government walking on path laid out by Bapu: Rajnath Singh

India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of legendary freedom movement leader and 'Father of the Nation', Mahatma Gandhi, on Wednesday. Mahatma Gandhi presented Khadi as a symbol of nationalism, equality and self-reliance. Watch the modernisation of Khadi.

Gandhi at 150: Celebrating the spirit of Khadi

<p>Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/memories-from-houston-pm-modi-gifts-framed-photograph-from-howdy-modi-to-trump-251835">Narendra Modi</a> inaugurated a 50 kilowatt 'Gandhi Solar Park'&nbsp;at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York, US on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Among the leaders who were also present at the inauguration includes, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,&nbsp;President of South Korea Moon-Jae-in and&nbsp;UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.</p>

<p>The leaders also launched a United Nations (UN) postage stamp of Mahatma Gandhi, at the programme 'Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World'&nbsp;at the UN headquarters.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">USA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders also launched a United Nations (UN) postage stamp of Mahatma Gandhi, at the programme 'Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World' at the UN headquarters. <a href="https://t.co/uNJaOBT4oo">https://t.co/uNJaOBT4oo</a> <a href="https://t.co/ns8OZEVMBq">pic.twitter.com/ns8OZEVMBq</a></p>
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<p>The event was organised&nbsp;to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which will underline the continuing relevance of Gandhian thoughts and values in today's world.</p>

<p>"I'm extremely grateful to the United Nations (UN) for this programme and&nbsp;issuing a special commemorative stamp to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," PM Modi said while speaking at the UN program.</p>

<p>"Gandhi <em>ji</em> inspired the lives of those who never ever met him. Martin Luther King Junior and Nelson Mandela's policies and ideologies were based on Mahatma Gandhi's vision," PM Modi also said, adding, "he never tried to create influence through his life but it became a source of inspiration."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are living in the era of 'how to impress' but Gandhi <em>ji</em>'s vision was 'how to inspire'," PM added.</p>

<p>Bangladesh's&nbsp;PM Sheikh Hasina also spoke about at the UN programme.</p>

<p>"Gandhi ji was a true patriot, statesman and a saint. He dedicated his life for humankind, he was a beacon of hope and light in darkness," she said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to inaugurate a Gandhi Peace Garden at the State University of New York Campus at Old Westbury in Long Island where 150 trees have been planted in honour of Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.</p>

<p>Previously, PM Modi has held several bilateral and multilateral meetings with leaders from other countries and UN entities on the margins of the UN General Assembly.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a bilateral meet with US President Donald Trump during which both leaders discussed issues ranging from terrorism to trade.</p>

<p>Speaking with reporters after the bilateral meet, US President said India and US will have a trade deal ''very soon''.</p>

<p>During the meet, Trump hailed PM Modi as a great leader and described him as&nbsp;''Elvis of India'', referring to famous American singer and actor while PM Modi gave a framed photo&nbsp;from the mega&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/trump-calls-modi-elvis-of-india-says-modi-will-take-care-of-terrorism-from-pakistan-251819">'Howdy, Modi' event&nbsp;</a>to the US president.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 50 kilowatt 'Gandhi Solar Park' at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York, US on Tuesday. Among the leaders who were also present at the inauguration includes, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President of South Korea Moon-Jae-in and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 50 kilowatt 'Gandhi Solar Park' at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York, US on Tuesday. Among the leaders who were also present at the inauguration includes, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President of South Korea Moon-Jae-in and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The leaders also launched a United Nations (UN) postage stamp of Mahatma Gandhi, at the programme 'Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World' at the UN headquarters. USA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders also launched a United Nations (UN) postage stamp of Mahatma Gandhi, at the programme 'Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World' at the UN headquarters. https://t.co/uNJaOBT4oo pic.twitter.com/ns8OZEVMBq — ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2019 × The event was organised to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which will underline the continuing relevance of Gandhian thoughts and values in today's world. "I'm extremely grateful to the United Nations (UN) for this programme and issuing a special commemorative stamp to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi," PM Modi said while speaking at the UN program. "Gandhi ji inspired the lives of those who never ever met him. Martin Luther King Junior and Nelson Mandela's policies and ideologies were based on Mahatma Gandhi's vision," PM Modi also said, adding, "he never tried to create influence through his life but it became a source of inspiration." "We are living in the era of 'how to impress' but Gandhi ji's vision was 'how to inspire'," PM added. Bangladesh's PM Sheikh Hasina also spoke about at the UN programme. "Gandhi ji was a true patriot, statesman and a saint. He dedicated his life for humankind, he was a beacon of hope and light in darkness," she said. Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to inaugurate a Gandhi Peace Garden at the State University of New York Campus at Old Westbury in Long Island where 150 trees have been planted in honour of Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. Previously, PM Modi has held several bilateral and multilateral meetings with leaders from other countries and UN entities on the margins of the UN General Assembly. Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a bilateral meet with US President Donald Trump during which both leaders discussed issues ranging from terrorism to trade. Speaking with reporters after the bilateral meet, US President said India and US will have a trade deal ''very soon''. During the meet, Trump hailed PM Modi as a great leader and described him as ''Elvis of India'', referring to famous American singer and actor while PM Modi gave a framed photo from the mega 'Howdy, Modi' event to the US president.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Gandhi Solar Park at UN Headquarters; launches commemorative postage stamp

<p>Priyanka Gandhi’s sudden foray into <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-meets-two-relatives-of-sonbhadra-violance-victims-237252">Sonbhadra politics</a> and Uttar Pradesh government’s subsequent high handedness turned a low-key affair into a media delight. A story that would have passed quietly acquired a political life when Priyanka Gandhi was detained at Chunnar fort.</p>

<p>But the real question is whether, Sonbhadra is a starting point for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-priyanka-gandhi-spends-night-at-mirzapur-guest-house-says-will-not-leave-without-meeting-families-237228">Priyanka Gandhi</a>’s political rebirth and revival of the Congress politics, as many in Congress would like to believe.</p>

<p>In my opinion, it is neither a Belchi moment nor an inflexion point, where party charts out a course back to power. The Sonbhadra episode shows continuation of crisis and nervousness within the Congress party.</p>

<p>Before that, let us understand what Belchi was? It was a place where Dalits were killed by upper castes in Bihar. Indira Gandhi had made an unexpected journey to meet the victims, surprising her political opponents. The political episode revived Indira Gandhi’s fortune.</p>

<p>Congress-led by Indira Gandhi in 1977 had retained the whole of South India and lost majorly in North India. Congress got 154 seats in Lok Sabha. It still enjoyed 34.52 per cent of the vote share, nationally. The combined Opposition stood at 41.32 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The party in 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly got 6.75 per cent of votes while in 2019 got just one Lok Sabha seat. BJP'S vote share was almost close to 50 per cent in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2019, the national vote share of the Congress Party stood at 19.5 per cent whereas vote share of BJP stood at 38 per cent. Congress is nowhere close to that mark and nor does it have a firmly entrenched leader like Indira Gandhi at helms of the affairs, leave alone, vibrant state units.</p>

<p>Congress, for the first time after decades, does not even have a functional president. Rahul Gandhi is travelling abroad and sulking in public that seniors did not allow him to run the party freely. It is Rahul Gandhi’s successive second Lok Sabha defeat. Sonia Gandhi is inactive in the electoral politics and Priyanka Gandhi is only in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.</p>

<p>On top of it, a section close to Rahul Gandhi wants elections in the party which will be a precursor for a split, nationally. The idea is to replicate what Indira Gandhi did to sideline the Syndicates 50 years back. But, that is not the case today as the charisma of Nehru’s daughter has been matched by the charisma of Narendra Modi. In 40 years, the dynasty has become a liability, politically. It is no more virtue or an asset for an aspiring politician like Priyanka Gandhi who, till now, has not contested even one election or held organizational post before 2019.</p>

<p>Sonbhadra episode shows that politics abhor a vacuum and Priyanka Gandhi filled it in Rahul Gandhi’s absence. It is for this reason, senior Congress leaders were scrambling to reach Varanasi airport.</p>

<p>But that is an arrangement within the party but not outside as Congress lacks a coherent ideology and organization in the state and also nationally.</p>

<p>It also does not have a chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh. Bhatta Parsaul is the best example of the failure of an episodic engagement in politics. &nbsp;Rahul Gandhi generated best of TV optics but lost Uttar Pradesh pretty badly to the Samajwadi Party in 2012. In my opinion, the mistake which Congress commits regularly in the context of larger social events like Sonbhadra is to make the political story revolve around Gandhi’s.</p>

<p>It is never matched with the groundwork after the event. It is here, the RSS-BJP combination outshines Congress. They have thousands of silent workers who in the absence of big leaders work tirelessly at the grassroots - something completely absent today in the case of Congress.</p>

<p>There is a saying in Hindi, “d<i>oobte ko tinke ka sahara milna</i>,” this is an apt version for the event. What happened to the Ganga Yatra which Priyanka Gandhi undertook in Uttar Pradesh? It fetched zero results.</p>

<p>The only thing on the positive side is that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has shown political toughness at a time of crisis. She is working when the party is standing still. The electorate appreciates leaders who do not give up. Priyanka, by going to Uttar Pradesh, has demonstrated her will to not let go of her assignment. On top of it, the unexpected turnout of the event may have further vetted her appetite for a bigger political fight but the real work remains pending, that being what does the Congress party stands for?</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)</em>&nbsp;</p>


Priyanka Gandhi’s sudden foray into Sonbhadra politics and Uttar Pradesh government’s subsequent high handedness turned a low-key affair into a media delight. A story that would have passed quietly acquired a political life when Priyanka Gandhi was detained at Chunnar fort.

Priyanka Gandhi’s sudden foray into Sonbhadra politics and Uttar Pradesh government’s subsequent high handedness turned a low-key affair into a media delight. A story that would have passed quietly acquired a political life when Priyanka Gandhi was detained at Chunnar fort. But the real question is whether, Sonbhadra is a starting point for Priyanka Gandhi’s political rebirth and revival of the Congress politics, as many in Congress would like to believe. In my opinion, it is neither a Belchi moment nor an inflexion point, where party charts out a course back to power. The Sonbhadra episode shows continuation of crisis and nervousness within the Congress party. Before that, let us understand what Belchi was? It was a place where Dalits were killed by upper castes in Bihar. Indira Gandhi had made an unexpected journey to meet the victims, surprising her political opponents. The political episode revived Indira Gandhi’s fortune. Congress-led by Indira Gandhi in 1977 had retained the whole of South India and lost majorly in North India. Congress got 154 seats in Lok Sabha. It still enjoyed 34.52 per cent of the vote share, nationally. The combined Opposition stood at 41.32 per cent. The party in 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly got 6.75 per cent of votes while in 2019 got just one Lok Sabha seat. BJP'S vote share was almost close to 50 per cent in Uttar Pradesh. In 2019, the national vote share of the Congress Party stood at 19.5 per cent whereas vote share of BJP stood at 38 per cent. Congress is nowhere close to that mark and nor does it have a firmly entrenched leader like Indira Gandhi at helms of the affairs, leave alone, vibrant state units. Congress, for the first time after decades, does not even have a functional president. Rahul Gandhi is travelling abroad and sulking in public that seniors did not allow him to run the party freely. It is Rahul Gandhi’s successive second Lok Sabha defeat. Sonia Gandhi is inactive in the electoral politics and Priyanka Gandhi is only in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh. On top of it, a section close to Rahul Gandhi wants elections in the party which will be a precursor for a split, nationally. The idea is to replicate what Indira Gandhi did to sideline the Syndicates 50 years back. But, that is not the case today as the charisma of Nehru’s daughter has been matched by the charisma of Narendra Modi. In 40 years, the dynasty has become a liability, politically. It is no more virtue or an asset for an aspiring politician like Priyanka Gandhi who, till now, has not contested even one election or held organizational post before 2019. Sonbhadra episode shows that politics abhor a vacuum and Priyanka Gandhi filled it in Rahul Gandhi’s absence. It is for this reason, senior Congress leaders were scrambling to reach Varanasi airport. But that is an arrangement within the party but not outside as Congress lacks a coherent ideology and organization in the state and also nationally. It also does not have a chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh. Bhatta Parsaul is the best example of the failure of an episodic engagement in politics. Rahul Gandhi generated best of TV optics but lost Uttar Pradesh pretty badly to the Samajwadi Party in 2012. In my opinion, the mistake which Congress commits regularly in the context of larger social events like Sonbhadra is to make the political story revolve around Gandhi’s. It is never matched with the groundwork after the event. It is here, the RSS-BJP combination outshines Congress. They have thousands of silent workers who in the absence of big leaders work tirelessly at the grassroots - something completely absent today in the case of Congress. There is a saying in Hindi, “doobte ko tinke ka sahara milna,” this is an apt version for the event. What happened to the Ganga Yatra which Priyanka Gandhi undertook in Uttar Pradesh? It fetched zero results. The only thing on the positive side is that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has shown political toughness at a time of crisis. She is working when the party is standing still. The electorate appreciates leaders who do not give up. Priyanka, by going to Uttar Pradesh, has demonstrated her will to not let go of her assignment. On top of it, the unexpected turnout of the event may have further vetted her appetite for a bigger political fight but the real work remains pending, that being what does the Congress party stands for? (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

A Belchi moment for Congress party? No; good job by Priyanka? Yes

<p>Few other public figures have inspired artistic imaginations as sustainably as Mahatma Gandhi had done. Here was a man who hardly watched films, rarely attended a concert of classical music and demonstrated no great interest in Western-style modernism in the visual and performing art forms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To understand Gandhi’s psyche, therefore, one has to visit his ideas on the arts, literature and their creators.</p>

<p>On December 10, 1931, he told Romain Rolland: “I am against the formula of ‘art for art’s sake’. For me, all art must be based on truth.” Seven years later, he said, “We have somehow accustomed ourselves to the belief that art is independent of the purity of private life… I can say that purity of life is the highest and truest art. The art of producing good music from a cultivated voice can be achieved by many, but the art of producing that music from the harmony of a pure life is achieved very rarely.”</p>

<p>Beauty, to Gandhi, emanates from truth and purity of life. “Truth is the first thing to be sought for, and beauty and goodness will then be added unto you…” His love and appreciation for the works of Tolstoy, Ruskin, Thoreau, Tagore and for the painting and artwork of Nandalal Bose as well as the musical renditions by M S Subbulakshmi, Juthika Roy and Pandit Omkarnath Thakur should perhaps be seen in this context.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While Gandhi was steadfast in his ideas, he was not unaware of his own limitations. About Nandalal Bose of Santiniketan, he commented, “For, he is a creative artist and I am none. God has given me the sense of art, but not the organs to give it a concrete shape. He has blessed Nandalal Babu with both”’ On another occasion, “I am not an art student… I do not write or speak about it because I am conscious of my limitations. My functions are different from the artist’s and I should not go out of my way to assume his position.” He used the services of Bose for the Congress sessions and exhibitions and was all praise of his artistic genius.</p>

<p>About Oscar Wilde, his comment, “Wilde saw the highest art simply in outward forms and, therefore, succeeded in beautifying immorality…” may appear dated and puritanical in the context of today’s sensibilities, but Gandhi hits the nail when he says, “On the other hand, truth may manifest itself in forms which may not be outwardly beautiful. Socrates, we are told, was the most truthful man of his time and yet his features are said to have been the ugliest in Greece. To my mind, he was beautiful because all his life he was striving for truth…”</p>

<p>Gandhi read and wrote extensively, and travelled incessantly. He was self-luminous, experimenting continuously with himself, and was so immersed in the ‘real’ issues of life, that he hardly had time or perhaps even the inclination to be enriched by ‘fiction’. His once observed, in the context of Gujarati literature, “The less we revel in the realm of the fiction, the better for us.”</p>

<p>His aversion to the cinema and his refusal to see any good in it stemmed from his understanding that cinema, of dance and music, is primarily for amusement and exerts a malefic influence on society.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was persuaded to meet Charlie Chaplin, impressed him a great deal, but never showed any interest in his work. Late in his life (1943-44), he condescended to watch two movies, Vijay Bhatt’s Ram Rajya and Curtiz’s Mission to Moscow. He apparently did not comment on either.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During his lifetime, many socially relevant films were made on issues dear to him, but he refused to see much merit in cinematic art. Gandhi’s attitude to the theatre was also almost similar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was more interested in music, but of a special variety. Invited to a performance by the great Ustad Abdul Karim Khan at the residence of Dilip Kumar Roy, Gandhi reportedly started collecting subscription for Congress party in between.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Gandhi’s request, Gauhar Jaan performed for a charity show, but Gandhi eventually shied away from attending the function himself. He may not have had an interest in the subtleties of pure classical music, but he used to enjoy bhajans. Subbulakshmi’s rendition of a Dikshitar Kirti Mamava Pattabhirama…was deeply appreciated. Post-independence, Gandhi wanted her to sing and record Hari Tum Haro… and reportedly said that he would rather have her speak the bhajan than have anyone else sing it!&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi also liked the devotional songs by Juthika Roy whose records used to be played before his prayer meetings. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar composed the music for Gandhi’s favourite Raghupati Raghava…About Omkarnath Thakur, Gandhi is believed to have said: “Pandit Omkarnathji can achieve through a single song of his what I can achieve through several speeches.”</p>

<p>He was also fond of the singing of Dilip Kumar Roy and named his protégé Uma Basu as the ‘Nightingale of Bengal’. No wonder he admitted that he would have died of the crushing burden of work “if there was no music and no laughter in me.”</p>

<p>Gandhi read Tagore in translation since his yearning to learn Bangla had to wait till the last days of his life. His favourite song ‘If no one responds to your call, walk alone, walk alone’ used to be sung during Gandhi’s days at Noakhali. After the Poona Pact was signed, Gandhi’s fast was broken with Tagore himself singing ‘When the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me with a shower of mercy’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was often criticised, misunderstood and not considered a connoisseur of the arts, but he continued pursuing his own goals. This may be reflective of an orthodox attitude that almost borders on the spiritual, not in sync with the prevalent western mores, but Gandhi’s approach in this regard has not been inconsistent with his philosophy of life.<br />
<br />
<em>(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-little-known-side-of-mahatma-2761238">original article</a>)</em></p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Few other public figures have inspired artistic imaginations as sustainably as Mahatma Gandhi had done. Here was a man who hardly watched films, rarely attended a concert of classical music and demonstrated no great interest in Western-style modernism in the visual and performing art forms.

Few other public figures have inspired artistic imaginations as sustainably as Mahatma Gandhi had done. Here was a man who hardly watched films, rarely attended a concert of classical music and demonstrated no great interest in Western-style modernism in the visual and performing art forms. To understand Gandhi’s psyche, therefore, one has to visit his ideas on the arts, literature and their creators. On December 10, 1931, he told Romain Rolland: “I am against the formula of ‘art for art’s sake’. For me, all art must be based on truth.” Seven years later, he said, “We have somehow accustomed ourselves to the belief that art is independent of the purity of private life… I can say that purity of life is the highest and truest art. The art of producing good music from a cultivated voice can be achieved by many, but the art of producing that music from the harmony of a pure life is achieved very rarely.” Beauty, to Gandhi, emanates from truth and purity of life. “Truth is the first thing to be sought for, and beauty and goodness will then be added unto you…” His love and appreciation for the works of Tolstoy, Ruskin, Thoreau, Tagore and for the painting and artwork of Nandalal Bose as well as the musical renditions by M S Subbulakshmi, Juthika Roy and Pandit Omkarnath Thakur should perhaps be seen in this context. While Gandhi was steadfast in his ideas, he was not unaware of his own limitations. About Nandalal Bose of Santiniketan, he commented, “For, he is a creative artist and I am none. God has given me the sense of art, but not the organs to give it a concrete shape. He has blessed Nandalal Babu with both”’ On another occasion, “I am not an art student… I do not write or speak about it because I am conscious of my limitations. My functions are different from the artist’s and I should not go out of my way to assume his position.” He used the services of Bose for the Congress sessions and exhibitions and was all praise of his artistic genius. About Oscar Wilde, his comment, “Wilde saw the highest art simply in outward forms and, therefore, succeeded in beautifying immorality…” may appear dated and puritanical in the context of today’s sensibilities, but Gandhi hits the nail when he says, “On the other hand, truth may manifest itself in forms which may not be outwardly beautiful. Socrates, we are told, was the most truthful man of his time and yet his features are said to have been the ugliest in Greece. To my mind, he was beautiful because all his life he was striving for truth…” Gandhi read and wrote extensively, and travelled incessantly. He was self-luminous, experimenting continuously with himself, and was so immersed in the ‘real’ issues of life, that he hardly had time or perhaps even the inclination to be enriched by ‘fiction’. His once observed, in the context of Gujarati literature, “The less we revel in the realm of the fiction, the better for us.” His aversion to the cinema and his refusal to see any good in it stemmed from his understanding that cinema, of dance and music, is primarily for amusement and exerts a malefic influence on society. He was persuaded to meet Charlie Chaplin, impressed him a great deal, but never showed any interest in his work. Late in his life (1943-44), he condescended to watch two movies, Vijay Bhatt’s Ram Rajya and Curtiz’s Mission to Moscow. He apparently did not comment on either. During his lifetime, many socially relevant films were made on issues dear to him, but he refused to see much merit in cinematic art. Gandhi’s attitude to the theatre was also almost similar. He was more interested in music, but of a special variety. Invited to a performance by the great Ustad Abdul Karim Khan at the residence of Dilip Kumar Roy, Gandhi reportedly started collecting subscription for Congress party in between. On Gandhi’s request, Gauhar Jaan performed for a charity show, but Gandhi eventually shied away from attending the function himself. He may not have had an interest in the subtleties of pure classical music, but he used to enjoy bhajans. Subbulakshmi’s rendition of a Dikshitar Kirti Mamava Pattabhirama…was deeply appreciated. Post-independence, Gandhi wanted her to sing and record Hari Tum Haro… and reportedly said that he would rather have her speak the bhajan than have anyone else sing it! Gandhi also liked the devotional songs by Juthika Roy whose records used to be played before his prayer meetings. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar composed the music for Gandhi’s favourite Raghupati Raghava…About Omkarnath Thakur, Gandhi is believed to have said: “Pandit Omkarnathji can achieve through a single song of his what I can achieve through several speeches.” He was also fond of the singing of Dilip Kumar Roy and named his protégé Uma Basu as the ‘Nightingale of Bengal’. No wonder he admitted that he would have died of the crushing burden of work “if there was no music and no laughter in me.” Gandhi read Tagore in translation since his yearning to learn Bangla had to wait till the last days of his life. His favourite song ‘If no one responds to your call, walk alone, walk alone’ used to be sung during Gandhi’s days at Noakhali. After the Poona Pact was signed, Gandhi’s fast was broken with Tagore himself singing ‘When the heart is hard and parched up, come upon me with a shower of mercy’. He was often criticised, misunderstood and not considered a connoisseur of the arts, but he continued pursuing his own goals. This may be reflective of an orthodox attitude that almost borders on the spiritual, not in sync with the prevalent western mores, but Gandhi’s approach in this regard has not been inconsistent with his philosophy of life. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Blog: Little known side of Mahatma Gandhi

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/with-rahul-gandhi-firm-on-quitting-as-party-chief-congress-working-committee-to-meet-again-this-week-222138">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a> is slated to visit his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad on Friday afternoon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This will be Gandhi`s first visit after he won the seat in the recently held Lok Sabha polls.</p>

<p>He will stay in his constituency till Sunday during which he will meet party workers and citizens.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens and Congress Party workers. It`s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days," tweeted Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<p>Rahul had on May 24 expressed gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha.</p>

<p>On May 31, Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to order an enquiry into the `suicide` of a debt-ridden farmer from Wayanad.</p>

<p>Gandhi also urged him to extend financial support to the family of the deceased.</p>

<p>Gandhi, who netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, won by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)`s PP Suneer in the constituency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the Congress President lost his family stronghold Amethi parliamentary constituency by BJP leader Smriti Irani.</p>


Congress president Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad on Friday afternoon. This will be Gandhi`s first visit after he won the seat in the recently held Lok Sabha polls.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad on Friday afternoon. This will be Gandhi`s first visit after he won the seat in the recently held Lok Sabha polls. He will stay in his constituency till Sunday during which he will meet party workers and citizens. "I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens and Congress Party workers. It`s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days," tweeted Rahul Gandhi. Rahul had on May 24 expressed gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha. On May 31, Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him to order an enquiry into the `suicide` of a debt-ridden farmer from Wayanad. Gandhi also urged him to extend financial support to the family of the deceased. Gandhi, who netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, won by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)`s PP Suneer in the constituency. However, the Congress President lost his family stronghold Amethi parliamentary constituency by BJP leader Smriti Irani.

Rahul Gandhi to visit his parliamentary constituency Wayanad today

<p>Delhi Congress unit chief Sheila Dikshit on Saturday said the people's perception about Rahul Gandhi has undergone a sea change.</p>

<p>"People's perception about Rahul ji has gone through a major change. He is being seen as a promising leader," said Dikshit in an exclusive conversation with ANI.</p>

<p>She also said that the campaign of the Congress party in Delhi drastically picked up the pace after the roadshow of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.</p>

<p>"People's response towards Priyanka ji has been overwhelming. The high turnout of people during her roadshow even amazed us. Our campaign suddenly spiked after the arrival of Priyanka ji and Rahul ji," said the three-time former chief minister.</p>

<p>Resisting from predicting the Lok Sabha result, the octogenarian leader said: "It is a three-sided contest between Congress, AAP, and BJP. But it is only the Congress party which has got an enviable record of bringing development to Delhi during our three terms."</p>

<p>Contesting from North-East Delhi parliamentary constituency, Dikshit expressed concern over the delay in sending slips to the voters in her constituency.</p>

<p>"Voters in my constituency have not received voter slips by now. I have called the officials thrice and they have assured me that the slips will reach in time. Let us hope for the best," said Dikshit.</p>

<p>All seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi are going to polls on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.&nbsp;</p>


Delhi Congress unit chief Sheila Dikshit on Saturday said the people's perception about Rahul Gandhi has undergone a sea change. "People's perception about Rahul ji has gone through a major change.

Delhi Congress unit chief Sheila Dikshit on Saturday said the people's perception about Rahul Gandhi has undergone a sea change. "People's perception about Rahul ji has gone through a major change. He is being seen as a promising leader," said Dikshit in an exclusive conversation with ANI. She also said that the campaign of the Congress party in Delhi drastically picked up the pace after the roadshow of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. "People's response towards Priyanka ji has been overwhelming. The high turnout of people during her roadshow even amazed us. Our campaign suddenly spiked after the arrival of Priyanka ji and Rahul ji," said the three-time former chief minister. Resisting from predicting the Lok Sabha result, the octogenarian leader said: "It is a three-sided contest between Congress, AAP, and BJP. But it is only the Congress party which has got an enviable record of bringing development to Delhi during our three terms." Contesting from North-East Delhi parliamentary constituency, Dikshit expressed concern over the delay in sending slips to the voters in her constituency. "Voters in my constituency have not received voter slips by now. I have called the officials thrice and they have assured me that the slips will reach in time. Let us hope for the best," said Dikshit. All seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi are going to polls on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

People's perception about Rahul Gandhi has undergone change: Sheila Dikshit

<p>A case under Section 124 (A) and 505 (1) has been filed against <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/elections/politicians/rahul-gandhi&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiRqYGzrvDhAhXb8XMBHSXoD_YQFjABegQICxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1tcIxcJijCnDNGDSOa-O0f">Congress president Rahul Gandhi </a>and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in the Ara Civil Court by an advocate named Satyavrat on Saturday.</p>

<p>The complainant, Satyavrat, has filed a case against both the leaders for the joint rally of the Mahagathbandhan held in Samastipur on Friday, where Gandhi was allegedly asking the crowd to raise slogans of '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/regret-chowkidar-chor-hai-remark-against-pm-modi-in-rafale-deal-rahul-gandhi-in-response-to-supreme-court-notice-212506">Chowkidar Chor Hai</a>' to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).</p>

<p>This was also the first rally in the ongoing campaigns for the Lok Sabha elections in which the two prominent leaders shared the stage.</p>

<p>While Section 124 (A) covers sedition, section 505 (1) deals with intent to incite one section of the public to commit offences against another section of the public or statements creating ill-will between the masses.</p>

<p>Polling in Bihar is being held in all seven phases of elections. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.&nbsp;</p>


A case under Section 124 (A) and 505 (1) has been filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in the Ara Civil Court by an advocate named Satyavrat on Saturday.

A case under Section 124 (A) and 505 (1) has been filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in the Ara Civil Court by an advocate named Satyavrat on Saturday. The complainant, Satyavrat, has filed a case against both the leaders for the joint rally of the Mahagathbandhan held in Samastipur on Friday, where Gandhi was allegedly asking the crowd to raise slogans of 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This was also the first rally in the ongoing campaigns for the Lok Sabha elections in which the two prominent leaders shared the stage. While Section 124 (A) covers sedition, section 505 (1) deals with intent to incite one section of the public to commit offences against another section of the public or statements creating ill-will between the masses. Polling in Bihar is being held in all seven phases of elections. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Case filed against Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav for asking crowd to raise 'chowkidar chor hai' slogan

89 years of the Dandi satyagraha

<p>Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday took charge as AICC general secretary and will helm the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East.</p>

<p>She assumed charge after dropping her husband Robert Vadra at the ED office. She then met party workers.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Congress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at Congress Headquarters in Delhi. Earlier today she had accompanied her husband Robert Vadra to Enforcement Directorate Office &amp; left soon after. <a href="https://t.co/2RDbaHG5JV">pic.twitter.com/2RDbaHG5JV</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1093105990340354048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Priyanka was appointed as general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh east on January 23 by her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.</p>

<p>Her office is adjacent to the room of her brother at the party headquarters at Akbar Road here.</p>

<p>She will attend her first official meeting on Thursday. Rahul has convened the meeting of all general secretaries and in-charges of various states to plan the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday took charge as AICC general secretary and will helm the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East. She assumed charge after dropping her husband Robert Vadra at the ED office.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday took charge as AICC general secretary and will helm the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East. She assumed charge after dropping her husband Robert Vadra at the ED office. She then met party workers. #WATCH: Congress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrives at Congress Headquarters in Delhi. Earlier today she had accompanied her husband Robert Vadra to Enforcement Directorate Office & left soon after. pic.twitter.com/2RDbaHG5JV — ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2019 × Priyanka was appointed as general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh east on January 23 by her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. Her office is adjacent to the room of her brother at the party headquarters at Akbar Road here. She will attend her first official meeting on Thursday. Rahul has convened the meeting of all general secretaries and in-charges of various states to plan the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections.

Priyanka Gandhi assumes charge as AICC general secretary

<p>In a counter attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cable-stayed-atal-setu-inaugurated-on-mandovi-river-in-goa-193229">Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar </a>accused him of using his courtesy visit to him for petty political gains.</p>

<p>In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Parrikar wrote, "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the five minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.'</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Goa CM Manohar Parrikar writes to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, writes "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' <a href="https://t.co/HbUX6yiDk3">pic.twitter.com/HbUX6yiDk3</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1090565906227490817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Parrikar's response to Rahul Gandhi came after the Congress president claimed that the former <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hows-the-josh-asks-nirmala-sitharaman-as-she-watches-uri-the-surgical-strike-193514">defence minister</a> told him in a meeting that he was not consulted&nbsp;before his party changed the&nbsp;Rafale deal.</p>

<p>Rahul, who was on a private visit to Goa, met the Chief Minister on Tuesday.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi says "Main kal Parrikar ji se mila tha. Parrikar ji ne swayam kaha tha ki deal badalte seamay PM ne Hindustan ke Defence Minister se nahi poocha tha." <a href="https://t.co/adgAV0SKhU">pic.twitter.com/adgAV0SKhU</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1090552279260901377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>He further attacked the former defence minister and said that Parrikar was trying to please PM Modi.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Rahul Gandhi: Ek taraf Parrikar ji cabinet meeting mein kehte hain ki mere paas Rafale hawai jahaz ki file padi hui hai, mujhe Goa se koi nahi hata sakta. Unka mantri journalist se telephone pe baat karta hai. Modi ji Parrikar ki khush karne ki koshish karte hain. <a href="https://t.co/z6HGD5UuUy">pic.twitter.com/z6HGD5UuUy</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1090562202040360960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, presented a revenue surplus state budget sitting on his chair in the state Assembly, with a tube inserted through his nose.</p>

<p>Parrikar tabled the budget which has total gross budgetary expenditure, including power purchase of Rs 19,548.69 crore as against Rs 17,123.98 crore for 2018-19, an increase of 14.16 per cent over last year, PTI reported.</p>

<p>Launching a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday alleged that he "sold" the Indian Air Force and "stole" opportunities of the youth by giving away Rs 30,000 crore to his "friend" and businessman Anil Ambani.</p>

<p>He said the prime minister spoke for one and a half hours in Parliament but when asked questions on Rafale, he could not look in the eye and kept looking elsewhere.</p>

<p>The government, as well as Ambani, have strongly denied any wrongdoing in the Rafale deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


In a counter attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar accused him of using his courtesy visit to him for petty political gains.

In a counter attack to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar accused him of using his courtesy visit to him for petty political gains. In a letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Parrikar wrote, "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the five minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' Goa CM Manohar Parrikar writes to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, writes "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' pic.twitter.com/HbUX6yiDk3 — ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019 × Parrikar's response to Rahul Gandhi came after the Congress president claimed that the former defence minister told him in a meeting that he was not consulted before his party changed the Rafale deal. Rahul, who was on a private visit to Goa, met the Chief Minister on Tuesday. #WATCH Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi says "Main kal Parrikar ji se mila tha. Parrikar ji ne swayam kaha tha ki deal badalte seamay PM ne Hindustan ke Defence Minister se nahi poocha tha." pic.twitter.com/adgAV0SKhU — ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019 × He further attacked the former defence minister and said that Parrikar was trying to please PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi: Ek taraf Parrikar ji cabinet meeting mein kehte hain ki mere paas Rafale hawai jahaz ki file padi hui hai, mujhe Goa se koi nahi hata sakta. Unka mantri journalist se telephone pe baat karta hai. Modi ji Parrikar ki khush karne ki koshish karte hain. pic.twitter.com/z6HGD5UuUy — ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019 × Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, presented a revenue surplus state budget sitting on his chair in the state Assembly, with a tube inserted through his nose. Parrikar tabled the budget which has total gross budgetary expenditure, including power purchase of Rs 19,548.69 crore as against Rs 17,123.98 crore for 2018-19, an increase of 14.16 per cent over last year, PTI reported. Launching a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rafale jet deal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday alleged that he "sold" the Indian Air Force and "stole" opportunities of the youth by giving away Rs 30,000 crore to his "friend" and businessman Anil Ambani. He said the prime minister spoke for one and a half hours in Parliament but when asked questions on Rafale, he could not look in the eye and kept looking elsewhere. The government, as well as Ambani, have strongly denied any wrongdoing in the Rafale deal. (With inputs from agencies)

No talks of Rafale with Rahul Gandhi: Manohar Parrikar

<p>With time lot of things about a country’s<a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/cambodia-diary-an-eye-opener-china-influence-188314"> past get&nbsp;sidelined to the margin</a> of collective memory. Sometimes it is done purposely and sometimes it happens without intent. Cambodia is a mixture of both.</p>

<p>Unlike India which saw political stability after independence, Cambodia could never enjoy this luxury. It was invaded by neighbours and then mauled from inside by vicious Khmer Rouge regime which massacred its own people and put millions into rural gulags who ultimately ended up in unmarked graves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even today, the remnants of turmoil end up on front pages. The memorial inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Vietnam Hun Sen in Phnom Penh is contested by many as treason.</p>

<p>The PM argues that Win-Win Memorial had made the country peaceful in the last 20 years. The contrarians argue that it means that the country has ended up acknowledging Vietnamese neo-colonialism. The locals argue that the memorialisation of Vietnamese troops to overthrow the Khmer Rouge is akin to remembering helplessness of the government. It's&nbsp;internal affair&nbsp;of&nbsp;Cambodia but triggers many memories for me.</p>

<p>India too was mauled by China and Pakistan on the borders, but civil society remained immune from massive disruption and civilians being eaten by its own regime or brutally assaulted by neighbours because of&nbsp;new geopolitical reality.</p>

<p>It is, therefore, a relief to understand that Gandhian mode of national struggle impregnated a sense of civility in public life among Indians. Since non-violence in political life was treated as a virtue only fringe groups resorted to political violence in India. Even left-wing extremism could not break India’s framework as large swathes of land believed in electoral democracy which forced the Left to treat elections as tactical if not the ultimate goal in the long run.</p>

<p>Every time, I go abroad, I look back at disbelief about the debate we have continued in our country on how the nation was betrayed at birth.</p>

<p>Indian leaders did make huge mistakes. The nation paid the cost. Be it under-preparedness when it came to China or economic re-orientation, but the nation never slid into anarchy. The national consensus which the freedom struggle built created a framework which people at large adhered. It subsequently manifested through our Constitution. Be it providence or pure luck, India managed to take a different path from most of the African and Asian nations who underwent colonial rule in the&nbsp;19th and 20th century.</p>

<p>Despite being a great power even today China cannot boast of a robust political environment. Till today, it has not put to rest the ghosts of cultural revolution.</p>

<p>So those who believe that India could have been different if its leaders had been different must travel to south-east Asia and some of the African countries to understand that Gandhi’s principle of nonviolence, egalitarianism and liberal values propagated by Nehru, strong framework of administration provided by Patel and our beautiful Constitution birthed by Ambedkar which&nbsp;stood the test of time.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


With time lot of things about a country’s past get sidelined to the margin of collective memory. Sometimes it is done purposely and sometimes it happens without intent.

With time lot of things about a country’s past get sidelined to the margin of collective memory. Sometimes it is done purposely and sometimes it happens without intent. Cambodia is a mixture of both. Unlike India which saw political stability after independence, Cambodia could never enjoy this luxury. It was invaded by neighbours and then mauled from inside by vicious Khmer Rouge regime which massacred its own people and put millions into rural gulags who ultimately ended up in unmarked graves. Even today, the remnants of turmoil end up on front pages. The memorial inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Vietnam Hun Sen in Phnom Penh is contested by many as treason. The PM argues that Win-Win Memorial had made the country peaceful in the last 20 years. The contrarians argue that it means that the country has ended up acknowledging Vietnamese neo-colonialism. The locals argue that the memorialisation of Vietnamese troops to overthrow the Khmer Rouge is akin to remembering helplessness of the government. It's internal affair of Cambodia but triggers many memories for me. India too was mauled by China and Pakistan on the borders, but civil society remained immune from massive disruption and civilians being eaten by its own regime or brutally assaulted by neighbours because of new geopolitical reality. It is, therefore, a relief to understand that Gandhian mode of national struggle impregnated a sense of civility in public life among Indians. Since non-violence in political life was treated as a virtue only fringe groups resorted to political violence in India. Even left-wing extremism could not break India’s framework as large swathes of land believed in electoral democracy which forced the Left to treat elections as tactical if not the ultimate goal in the long run. Every time, I go abroad, I look back at disbelief about the debate we have continued in our country on how the nation was betrayed at birth. Indian leaders did make huge mistakes. The nation paid the cost. Be it under-preparedness when it came to China or economic re-orientation, but the nation never slid into anarchy. The national consensus which the freedom struggle built created a framework which people at large adhered. It subsequently manifested through our Constitution. Be it providence or pure luck, India managed to take a different path from most of the African and Asian nations who underwent colonial rule in the 19th and 20th century. Despite being a great power even today China cannot boast of a robust political environment. Till today, it has not put to rest the ghosts of cultural revolution. So those who believe that India could have been different if its leaders had been different must travel to south-east Asia and some of the African countries to understand that Gandhi’s principle of nonviolence, egalitarianism and liberal values propagated by Nehru, strong framework of administration provided by Patel and our beautiful Constitution birthed by Ambedkar which stood the test of time. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Cambodia diary: Khmer Rouge, tragedy & rural gulags

<p>In a big development just before the election season kicks in India in 2019, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/16-fugitive-extradited-back-to-india-in-last-4-years-5-in-2018-187061">Christian Michel the man who was the key </a>middleman in the Rs 3600 crore&nbsp; AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam has taken the name of Mrs Gandhi during interrogation by enforcement directorate (ED), though the reference wasn't clear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ED counsel had shared the information at Delhi's Patiala court during the plea to extend his custody. He has spoken about the "son of the Italian lady" &nbsp;and how he is going to become the “next prime minister of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Other than that he said, "Big man R" which ED still has to decipher and will be confronting him on that.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ED highlighted how Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was removed from the deal and it was offered to Tata.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ED also sought to ban Michel's lawyer's access to him alleging he is being tutored from outside after they found that he was giving chits to them.</p>

<p>Reacting to it, Michel’s lawyer Aljo K Joseph said, "We don’t dispute that he (Christian Michel) had handed us the papers, but it’s the fault of the ED that they allowed it to happen."</p>

<p>ED has got 7-day custody of Michel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The revelations by Michel is considered as a big political bombshell with Congress facing the heat. Congress's RPN Singh said, "there is pressure on Michel to name a particular family".&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">RPN Singh Congress on ED says Christian Michel has taken the name of "Mrs Gandhi": There is pressure on Michel to name a particular family, why is the chowkidaar trying to pressurize the govt agencies to name a family? BJP script writers are working over time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Agustawestland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Agustawestland</a> <a href="https://t.co/qCxYeObJYN">pic.twitter.com/qCxYeObJYN</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1078951959976206337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) disclosed that Christian Michel took the name of “Mrs Gandhi” during interrogation, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar alleged that the Congress regime was a government of corruption that compromised with national security.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Union Min Prakash Javadekar on ED says Christian Michel spoke about 'son of Italian lady': Revelations by ED show that there is ‘son of Italian lady’,‘big man’&amp;‘R’ involved. It points towards a family. Congress govt was a govt of corruption that compromised with national security <a href="https://t.co/LqGRuSGoDv">pic.twitter.com/LqGRuSGoDv</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1078980179425320960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Christian Michel, a British national, was extradited from UAE early this month. UK has been seeking consular access which CBI has in principle approved but still not given the day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reacting to extradition of Michel, PM Modi speaking at a rally had said, "Under the regime of United Progressive Alliance (UPA), a VVIP chopper scam took place. After we came to power, an investigation was conducted into it and one person from Dubai was found (allegedly) guilty for his involvement in the case. Now this 'raazdaar' (custodian of secrets) will reveal all the secrets".</p>

<p>Clearly, it might be cold in Delhi, but political temperatures are rising.</p>


In a big development just before the election season kicks in India in 2019, Christian Michel the man who was the key middleman in the Rs 3600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam has taken the name of Mrs Gandhi during interrogation by enforcement directorate (ED), though the reference wasn't clear.

In a big development just before the election season kicks in India in 2019, Christian Michel the man who was the key middleman in the Rs 3600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam has taken the name of Mrs Gandhi during interrogation by enforcement directorate (ED), though the reference wasn't clear. The ED counsel had shared the information at Delhi's Patiala court during the plea to extend his custody. He has spoken about the "son of the Italian lady" and how he is going to become the “next prime minister of the country. Other than that he said, "Big man R" which ED still has to decipher and will be confronting him on that. The ED highlighted how Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was removed from the deal and it was offered to Tata. ED also sought to ban Michel's lawyer's access to him alleging he is being tutored from outside after they found that he was giving chits to them. Reacting to it, Michel’s lawyer Aljo K Joseph said, "We don’t dispute that he (Christian Michel) had handed us the papers, but it’s the fault of the ED that they allowed it to happen." ED has got 7-day custody of Michel. The revelations by Michel is considered as a big political bombshell with Congress facing the heat. Congress's RPN Singh said, "there is pressure on Michel to name a particular family". RPN Singh Congress on ED says Christian Michel has taken the name of "Mrs Gandhi": There is pressure on Michel to name a particular family, why is the chowkidaar trying to pressurize the govt agencies to name a family? BJP script writers are working over time. #Agustawestland pic.twitter.com/qCxYeObJYN — ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2018 × Hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) disclosed that Christian Michel took the name of “Mrs Gandhi” during interrogation, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar alleged that the Congress regime was a government of corruption that compromised with national security. Union Min Prakash Javadekar on ED says Christian Michel spoke about 'son of Italian lady': Revelations by ED show that there is ‘son of Italian lady’,‘big man’&‘R’ involved. It points towards a family. Congress govt was a govt of corruption that compromised with national security pic.twitter.com/LqGRuSGoDv — ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2018 × Christian Michel, a British national, was extradited from UAE early this month. UK has been seeking consular access which CBI has in principle approved but still not given the day. Reacting to extradition of Michel, PM Modi speaking at a rally had said, "Under the regime of United Progressive Alliance (UPA), a VVIP chopper scam took place. After we came to power, an investigation was conducted into it and one person from Dubai was found (allegedly) guilty for his involvement in the case. Now this 'raazdaar' (custodian of secrets) will reveal all the secrets". Clearly, it might be cold in Delhi, but political temperatures are rising.

AgustaWestland scam: Christian Michel named 'Mrs Gandhi', 'son of Italian lady' in probe, ED tells court

<p>The act of Kasturba Gandhi of keeping Rs four with her 'unlawfully' had irked the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and prompted him to write an article about her lapse, records show.</p>

<p>At a time when the world is set to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary Tuesday, a 1929 article which appeared in 'Navajivan', a weekly newspaper published by Gandhi, reveals his uncompromising stand for truth and ethics.</p>

<p>In the article titled, "My Sorrow, My Shame", Gandhi had criticised the shortcomings of some of the inmates, including his wife Kasturba at his ashram in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.</p>

<p>He also gave an explanation at the outset on why he decided to write this article.</p>

<p>"Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that it would be a breach of duty if I did not," Gandhi pointed out.</p>

<p>The 'Father of the Nation" said he had not hesitated to count many of the merits of Kasturba in his autobiography, but "she has got weaknesses too which mar these virtues."</p>

<p>Although she had given away all the money considering it to be the duty of a wife, "an ununderstandable, worldly desire still persists" in her, the Mahatma noted.</p>

<p>"A year or two back, she (Kasturba) had kept with her one or two hundred rupees which were received as presents from various persons on various occasions," he wrote.</p>

<p>"The rule (at the ashram) is that she cannot keep anything like hers, even when it is given for her. So this keeping of money was unlawful," Gandhiji said.</p>

<p>With a tinge of sarcasm, he said his wife's "delinquency" was detected following the arrival of some thieves at the ashram.</p>

<p>"Fortunately for her and for the mandir (ashram), once thieves entered her room. They did not get anything, but her delinquency was detected owing to their coming," he wrote.</p>

<p>Though Kasturba repented sincerely, it was proved "short-lived", Mahatma said, adding that a real change of heart had not taken place and the "fascination for treasuring money" had not vanished.</p>

<p>"Some days back, some strangers presented four rupees. Instead of giving away the money to the office, according to the usual rule, she kept it with herself."</p>

<p>Referring to the act as "theft" in the article, Gandhi said one of the inmates had later pointed to her about the mistake, leaving her repentant.<br />
In all humility, she gave back the money and vowed that such a thing would not be repeated.</p>

<p>"I believe hers was a honest repentance. She has taken a vow that she would leave me and the mandir, if any other lapse committed in the past is detected, or if she is caught doing the same thing again in future.</p>

<p>The mandir has accepted her repentance," Gandhi added.</p>

<p>Freedom fighter and staunch Gandhian Ayyappan Pillai said to be 106 years old, said there is nothing to be amused if Kasturba's trivial lapse formed the subject of Mahatma's article.</p>

<p>"Gandhiji was a living legend and avatar of truthfulness. He was the personification of self-righteousness and wanted everyone around him to be morally correct and transparent," he said.</p>

<p>Gandhi, however, had also waxed eloquent about the virtues and good qualities of his wife in the same article.</p>

<p>"I consider her life to be pure. She has sacrificed a great deal thinking it to be her duty as a wife... She has not stood in the way of my renunciation," Gandhiji added.&nbsp;</p>


The act of Kasturba Gandhi of keeping Rs four with her 'unlawfully' had irked the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and prompted him to write an article about her lapse, records show.

The act of Kasturba Gandhi of keeping Rs four with her 'unlawfully' had irked the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and prompted him to write an article about her lapse, records show. At a time when the world is set to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary Tuesday, a 1929 article which appeared in 'Navajivan', a weekly newspaper published by Gandhi, reveals his uncompromising stand for truth and ethics. In the article titled, "My Sorrow, My Shame", Gandhi had criticised the shortcomings of some of the inmates, including his wife Kasturba at his ashram in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. He also gave an explanation at the outset on why he decided to write this article. "Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that it would be a breach of duty if I did not," Gandhi pointed out. The 'Father of the Nation" said he had not hesitated to count many of the merits of Kasturba in his autobiography, but "she has got weaknesses too which mar these virtues." Although she had given away all the money considering it to be the duty of a wife, "an ununderstandable, worldly desire still persists" in her, the Mahatma noted. "A year or two back, she (Kasturba) had kept with her one or two hundred rupees which were received as presents from various persons on various occasions," he wrote. "The rule (at the ashram) is that she cannot keep anything like hers, even when it is given for her. So this keeping of money was unlawful," Gandhiji said. With a tinge of sarcasm, he said his wife's "delinquency" was detected following the arrival of some thieves at the ashram. "Fortunately for her and for the mandir (ashram), once thieves entered her room. They did not get anything, but her delinquency was detected owing to their coming," he wrote. Though Kasturba repented sincerely, it was proved "short-lived", Mahatma said, adding that a real change of heart had not taken place and the "fascination for treasuring money" had not vanished. "Some days back, some strangers presented four rupees. Instead of giving away the money to the office, according to the usual rule, she kept it with herself." Referring to the act as "theft" in the article, Gandhi said one of the inmates had later pointed to her about the mistake, leaving her repentant. In all humility, she gave back the money and vowed that such a thing would not be repeated. "I believe hers was a honest repentance. She has taken a vow that she would leave me and the mandir, if any other lapse committed in the past is detected, or if she is caught doing the same thing again in future. The mandir has accepted her repentance," Gandhi added. Freedom fighter and staunch Gandhian Ayyappan Pillai said to be 106 years old, said there is nothing to be amused if Kasturba's trivial lapse formed the subject of Mahatma's article. "Gandhiji was a living legend and avatar of truthfulness. He was the personification of self-righteousness and wanted everyone around him to be morally correct and transparent," he said. Gandhi, however, had also waxed eloquent about the virtues and good qualities of his wife in the same article. "I consider her life to be pure. She has sacrificed a great deal thinking it to be her duty as a wife... She has not stood in the way of my renunciation," Gandhiji added.

Gandhi Jayanti 2018: When Bapu was irked by his wife for unlawfully keeping Rs 4

<p>Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has slammed — and fact-checked — the speech Rahul Gandhi's gave at Mandsaur today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"How much does he know? When will he know?" Jaitley said in a Facebook post. He then went on to ask whether Rahul was being "inadequately briefed" or whether he was being a little too "liberal with his facts".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rahul spoke in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh today on the first anniversary of the killing of seven farmers by police. The farmers had been agitating for higher remuneration for their crops.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rahul promised his audience that all farm loans would be waived should the Congress be voted into power in Madhya Pradesh in the forthcoming assembly elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also met the families of the farmers shot dead last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mandsaur killings anniversary: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-waive-farm-loans-in-10-days-if-voted-to-power-in-madhya-pradesh--rahul-gandhi-142593">Rahul promises farm loans waiver, meets families of the dead</a></p>

<p><br />
This is what Jaitley had to say about his speech:&nbsp;</p>

<p>1). He (Rahul Gandhi) accused Prime Minister Modi of waiving of the loans of Rs.2.5 lakh crores of the 15 top industrialists in the country. - Factually this is completely false.&nbsp;<br />
The Government has not waived of a single rupee due from any industrialist. The facts are to the contrary. Those who owed money to the banks and other creditors have been declared insolvent and removed from their companies by IBC enacted by Prime Minister Modi’s Government. These loans were given largely during the UPA Government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>2). Loans are not available to the kisans but only to the industrialists- Factually false.&nbsp;<br />
This was during the UPA Government, particularly UPA II, when bulk of amount constitute the NPA’s today were given by the banking system during the period 2008-14. From 2014 we have been systematically taking one step after the other to recover these monies back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>3). Prime Minister has given Rs.35000 crores each to two diamond jewellers who have now escaped out of country – factually false.<br />
This banking fraud started in the year 2011 when the UPA II was in power. It was only detected during the NDA period.&nbsp;</p>

<p>4). If the Congress comes to power mobile phones, which are made in China, will now be manufactured in India - a case of inadequate knowledge.&nbsp;<br />
In the year 2014 when UPA went out of power, there were only two mobile phone manufacturing units in India. In 2018, with the result of our electronics policy and the incentives in a four year period, this has increased to 120 units with an investment of Rs.1,32,000 crores.&nbsp;</p>

<p>5). Jobs not being created in India<br />
The latest GDP date has reemphasised India as the fastest growing economy in the world. There is a double digit growth in construction, expansion in manufacturing, an increased capital formation which indicates investment increase, large investment in physical infrastructure and increased investment in rural India. All these are job creating sectors.&nbsp;</p>

<p>6). We will connect farms and villages to the cities – His impression is of the Digvijay Singh era in Madhya Pradesh.<br />
Madhya Pradesh had the worst set of roads in India when the Congress was voted out in 2003. Poor quality roads was one key reason for ousting the Congress. Thanks to Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Prime Minister Modi who during the NDA Government, has tripled the investment in rural roads, in comparison to what the UPA spent, there is a revolution in the Gram Sadak Yojana.</p>


Jaitley asked whether Rahul was being 'inadequately briefed' or whether he was being a little too 'liberal with his facts'. He then went on to fact-check Rahul's speech

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has slammed — and fact-checked — the speech Rahul Gandhi's gave at Mandsaur today. "How much does he know? When will he know?" Jaitley said in a Facebook post. He then went on to ask whether Rahul was being "inadequately briefed" or whether he was being a little too "liberal with his facts". Rahul spoke in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh today on the first anniversary of the killing of seven farmers by police. The farmers had been agitating for higher remuneration for their crops. Rahul promised his audience that all farm loans would be waived should the Congress be voted into power in Madhya Pradesh in the forthcoming assembly elections. He also met the families of the farmers shot dead last year. Mandsaur killings anniversary: Rahul promises farm loans waiver, meets families of the dead This is what Jaitley had to say about his speech: 1). He (Rahul Gandhi) accused Prime Minister Modi of waiving of the loans of Rs.2.5 lakh crores of the 15 top industrialists in the country. - Factually this is completely false. The Government has not waived of a single rupee due from any industrialist. The facts are to the contrary. Those who owed money to the banks and other creditors have been declared insolvent and removed from their companies by IBC enacted by Prime Minister Modi’s Government. These loans were given largely during the UPA Government. 2). Loans are not available to the kisans but only to the industrialists- Factually false. This was during the UPA Government, particularly UPA II, when bulk of amount constitute the NPA’s today were given by the banking system during the period 2008-14. From 2014 we have been systematically taking one step after the other to recover these monies back. 3). Prime Minister has given Rs.35000 crores each to two diamond jewellers who have now escaped out of country – factually false. This banking fraud started in the year 2011 when the UPA II was in power. It was only detected during the NDA period. 4). If the Congress comes to power mobile phones, which are made in China, will now be manufactured in India - a case of inadequate knowledge. In the year 2014 when UPA went out of power, there were only two mobile phone manufacturing units in India. In 2018, with the result of our electronics policy and the incentives in a four year period, this has increased to 120 units with an investment of Rs.1,32,000 crores. 5). Jobs not being created in India The latest GDP date has reemphasised India as the fastest growing economy in the world. There is a double digit growth in construction, expansion in manufacturing, an increased capital formation which indicates investment increase, large investment in physical infrastructure and increased investment in rural India. All these are job creating sectors. 6). We will connect farms and villages to the cities – His impression is of the Digvijay Singh era in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh had the worst set of roads in India when the Congress was voted out in 2003. Poor quality roads was one key reason for ousting the Congress. Thanks to Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Prime Minister Modi who during the NDA Government, has tripled the investment in rural roads, in comparison to what the UPA spent, there is a revolution in the Gram Sadak Yojana.

'How much does he know?' Jaitley slams Rahul Gandhi's Mandsaur speech

<p>While addressing the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-slams-prime-minister-narendra-modi-at-jan-aakrosh-rally-in-delhi-133556"> Jan Aakrosh Rally in Delhi</a>, Congress President Rahul Gandhi hit out at PM Modi and his recent visit to China.</p>

<p>Gandhi said, "The Chinese are aggressively pursuing militarisation in Doklam. Despite this, all that PM Modi does is hold a " no agenda" meeting with the Chinese President".</p>

<p>Gandhi targetted PM Modi for his recent visit to meet Chinese President at Wuhan.The meeting dubbed as "informal" is expected to bring a significant turn in India-China relations after the 73-day standoff over Doklam last year.</p>

<p>He also targetted PM Modi over Rafael Deal, Nirav Modi scam, recent rapes in the country, farmer debt, demonetisation and GST.</p>

<p>The "Jan Akrosh Rally" comes shortly ahead of the crucial Karnataka elections to be held on May 12.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Chinese are aggressively pursuing militarisation in Doklam. Despite this, all that PM Modi does is hold a "no-agenda" meeting with the Chinese President: Congress President Rahul Gandhi at Jan Aakrosh Rally in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/DedU2JUCdT">pic.twitter.com/DedU2JUCdT</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/990509716810985472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Gandhi said, 'The Chinese are aggressively pursuing militarisation in Doklam. Despite this, all that PM Modi does is hold a 'no agenda' meeting with the Chinese President

While addressing the Jan Aakrosh Rally in Delhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi hit out at PM Modi and his recent visit to China. Gandhi said, "The Chinese are aggressively pursuing militarisation in Doklam. Despite this, all that PM Modi does is hold a " no agenda" meeting with the Chinese President". Gandhi targetted PM Modi for his recent visit to meet Chinese President at Wuhan.The meeting dubbed as "informal" is expected to bring a significant turn in India-China relations after the 73-day standoff over Doklam last year. He also targetted PM Modi over Rafael Deal, Nirav Modi scam, recent rapes in the country, farmer debt, demonetisation and GST. The "Jan Akrosh Rally" comes shortly ahead of the crucial Karnataka elections to be held on May 12. The Chinese are aggressively pursuing militarisation in Doklam. Despite this, all that PM Modi does is hold a "no-agenda" meeting with the Chinese President: Congress President Rahul Gandhi at Jan Aakrosh Rally in Delhi pic.twitter.com/DedU2JUCdT — ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2018 ×

Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi's  'no agenda' meet with Chinese President, says China is undertaking militarisation in Doklam

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reached Motihari in Bihar in the concluding ceremony of the Champaran Satyagraha centenary celebrations at Motihari. Titled "Satyagrah se Swachhagrah" campaign, he addressed about 20,000 'Swacchagrahis' or cleanliness ambassadors at the Sacch Bharat Abhiyan event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A sprawling tent-city, named 'Swachhagram', has been set up to accommodate the volunteers. Mahatma Gandhi had set off on his Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 in protest against atrocities on Indigo planters.</p>

<p><em>Here are some highlights of the event:&nbsp;</em></p>

<p>- PM Modi was accompanied by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at the event on Tuesday where he laid foundation stone for four sewerage projects worth Rs. 1,111.56 crore. "These four projects together will create new sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity of 60 MLD and lay the sewer network of 376.12 km in Saidpur and Pahari sewerage zones of Patna," the release said.&nbsp;The expected sewage load for Patna by 2035 is estimated to be 320 MLD.&nbsp;</p>

<p>- PM Modi also flagged off&nbsp;an electric locomotive, with a 12,000 horsepower (HP), which will be flagged off from Bihar's Madhepura loco factory.&nbsp;This will be the first of 40 locomotives expected to roll out of the factory by the end of March 2020. Under the agreement with Alstom, India will get 800 high horsepower electric locomotives over the next 11 years, at a cost of Rs. 20,000 crore</p>

<p>- He also flagged off the first run of the Champaran Humsafar Express between Katihar and Old Delhi.&nbsp;The Champaran Humsafar Express will facilitate faster, safer and comfortable journey experience for the common man of North Bihar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>- "In the last one week, more than 8,50,000 toilets have been constructed in Bihar. This is a great achievement. I congratulate the people, the 'Swachhagrahis' and the State Govt for this," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>-&nbsp;We will launch a Gram Swaraj Abhiyan from April 14. We should see that the message of hygiene reaches all sections and every person in the society.&nbsp;We should make India a clean country in order to realise the idea of a 'New India' by 2022, says PM.&nbsp;</p>

<p>- At the event, PM Modi says Bihar is the state that transformed Mahatma Gandhi into 'Bapu'. "Hundred years ago, people from across the country came to Champaran and worked under the leadership of Gandhi. Today, enthusiastic youngsters are working shoulder to shoulder with cleanliness workers," he said.</p>

<p>- Rs&nbsp;6,600 crore worth projects have been launched&nbsp;today will be a boon to Bihar and Champaran. Projects worth Rs. 3,000 crore have been approved to prevent waste dumping in Ganga.&nbsp;</p>

<p>- "Under the leadership of Gandhi, the Satyagraha movement gave a new lease of life to many individuals. Swachhagraha is also changing people's lives," says Modi. "We will fulfill the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi" Modi added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>- He further urged the youth to play a big part in nation building with full enthusiasm.&nbsp;</p>


A sprawling tent-city, named 'Swachhagram', has been set up to accommodate the volunteers. Mahatma Gandhi had set off on his Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 in protest against atrocities on Indigo planter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reached Motihari in Bihar in the concluding ceremony of the Champaran Satyagraha centenary celebrations at Motihari. Titled "Satyagrah se Swachhagrah" campaign, he addressed about 20,000 'Swacchagrahis' or cleanliness ambassadors at the Sacch Bharat Abhiyan event. A sprawling tent-city, named 'Swachhagram', has been set up to accommodate the volunteers. Mahatma Gandhi had set off on his Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 in protest against atrocities on Indigo planters. Here are some highlights of the event: - PM Modi was accompanied by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at the event on Tuesday where he laid foundation stone for four sewerage projects worth Rs. 1,111.56 crore. "These four projects together will create new sewage treatment plant (STP) capacity of 60 MLD and lay the sewer network of 376.12 km in Saidpur and Pahari sewerage zones of Patna," the release said. The expected sewage load for Patna by 2035 is estimated to be 320 MLD. - PM Modi also flagged off an electric locomotive, with a 12,000 horsepower (HP), which will be flagged off from Bihar's Madhepura loco factory. This will be the first of 40 locomotives expected to roll out of the factory by the end of March 2020. Under the agreement with Alstom, India will get 800 high horsepower electric locomotives over the next 11 years, at a cost of Rs. 20,000 crore - He also flagged off the first run of the Champaran Humsafar Express between Katihar and Old Delhi. The Champaran Humsafar Express will facilitate faster, safer and comfortable journey experience for the common man of North Bihar. - "In the last one week, more than 8,50,000 toilets have been constructed in Bihar. This is a great achievement. I congratulate the people, the 'Swachhagrahis' and the State Govt for this," he said. - We will launch a Gram Swaraj Abhiyan from April 14. We should see that the message of hygiene reaches all sections and every person in the society. We should make India a clean country in order to realise the idea of a 'New India' by 2022, says PM. - At the event, PM Modi says Bihar is the state that transformed Mahatma Gandhi into 'Bapu'. "Hundred years ago, people from across the country came to Champaran and worked under the leadership of Gandhi. Today, enthusiastic youngsters are working shoulder to shoulder with cleanliness workers," he said. - Rs 6,600 crore worth projects have been launched today will be a boon to Bihar and Champaran. Projects worth Rs. 3,000 crore have been approved to prevent waste dumping in Ganga. - "Under the leadership of Gandhi, the Satyagraha movement gave a new lease of life to many individuals. Swachhagraha is also changing people's lives," says Modi. "We will fulfill the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi" Modi added. - He further urged the youth to play a big part in nation building with full enthusiasm.

8.5 lakh toilets built in Bihar in one week: PM Modi in Champaran

<p>On January 30th, 1948, Gandhiji was killed. This year marks his 70th death anniversary. Twice every year, on Gandhi&#39;s birthday on 2nd October and his death anniversary on 30 January, the country remembers the &#39;Father of the Nation&#39;. Both these dates are celebrated amidst much fanfare; there are seminars and conferences across the country. Long lectures abound. Intellectuals and politicians prepare notes of their speeches based on Gandhi&#39;s ideas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But, sadly, soon with the end of these occasions, Gandhi&#39;s ideas are put into the freezer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>India respects Gandhi but ignores his message</strong></p>

<p>Gandhiji&#39;s unifying role in bringing together a country as diverse as India is beyond question. However, his contribution has been largely forgotten by the state and the society. This collective amnesia is best proven in instances where government employees, unhesitatingly, take bribes in front of the framed pictures of Mahatma Gandhi which adorns almost all government offices of India.</p>

<p>The blood of the common men of India fills up the pocket of these corrupt officials. They lie, prepare incorrect reports and fool the citizens of the nation.</p>

<p>Possibly, all the major crossings of the country have a statue of Gandhiji. But that does not deter anyone from committing some of the heinous crimes on the roads and streets of India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi said, see no evil, speak no evil and don&#39;t listen to evil. However, we have learned not to pay heed to the most basic tenets of Gandhi&#39;s teachings. We continue, unhindered, to witness, speak and listen to evil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The civil society stands in full support whenever it feels the freedom of expression is threatened but no one is willing to take responsibility for expressing the ideas concerned.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Gandhi&#39;s global influence</strong></p>

<p>In the history of human civilisation, Gandhi is unique for devising an unprecedented strategy of protest. He proved that one can oppose a powerful and oppressive regime without shedding a drop of blood. Without hurting anyone physically, through the most peaceful of means, one can bring about a change.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi&#39;s ideas of non-violence and non-cooperation were an inspiration to the rest of the world. The human rights activist Martin Luther King who fought civil rights of the African-Americans took his political and ideological lessons from Gandhi.</p>

<p>Similarly, South Africa&#39;s Nelson Mandela infused his politics with Gandhi&#39;s ideas and action plans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is undeniable, how 70 years after his death, Gandhi continues to be relevant to the rest of the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Barack Obama, the former US president, acknowledged Gandhi&#39;s influence on him. We will hardly find a political leader in India who ends his speech without mentioning or quoting Gandhi.&nbsp; Not to mention, one political family in India who retained power through decades using their &#39;Gandhi&#39; surname.</p>

<p>Notwithstanding the profound influence that Gandhi had across space and time, he did not receive the Nobel prize. Perhaps, Gandhi was bigger than the prize. But another question crops up whether there was a secret agenda that denied Gandhi of the Nobel Peace Prize. After all, the politics surrounding the Nobel Prize is pretty well known to anyone who cares to explore.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why did Gandhi not get the Nobel Peace Prize?</strong></p>

<p>Now, the committee responsible for awarding the Nobel prize regrets that they did not give Gandhi the award when he was alive and fighting for India&#39;s freedom against a mighty opponent. What people, generally, think is that Norway&#39;s Nobel Prize Committee did not want to upset the Britishers who were India&#39;s colonial master.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But in reality, appeasement was not the only reason.</p>

<p>Gandhi was nominated 5 times for the Nobel prize: in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and in 1948.</p>

<p>In the first instance, a member of Norway&#39;s Parliament proposed Gandhi&#39;s name but it was overlooked by the committee.</p>

<p>Our research revealed a letter written by Prof. Jacob Worm-Muller who served as a consultant advisor to the committee. Reading the letter makes it very clear that Worm-Muller praised Gandhi but he also mentioned that he can not trust the latter&#39;s personality.</p>

<p>&quot;He is undoubtedly a good, noble and ascetic person &mdash; a prominent man who is deservedly honored and loved by the masses of India. But there are sharp turns in his policies, which can hardly be satisfactorily explained by his followers. He is a freedom fighter and a dictator, an idealist and a nationalist. He is frequently a Christ, but then, suddenly, an ordinary politician&quot;</p>

<p>Jacob Muller presented his thought in the year 1937 in front of the Committee. There were a lot of people at that time who were unable to understand Gandhi&#39;s ideology. Because, on the one hand, he was living a life of a saint, on the other hand, he was a lawyer. Gandhi while speaking about truth, non-violence and morality, was also fully aware of the working of the colonial machinery. This knowledge of the colonial system enabled Mahatma to counter the colonial rule like a seasoned politician. This is what the Nobel Committee, perhaps, found confusing. Is Gandhi a saint or a politician.</p>

<p>Prof. Muller also wrote that Gandhi was not completely non-violent. Muller said that Gandhi&#39;s nationalism is limited to the Indians. Even in South Africa, Gandhi&#39;s action was limited to the Indian communities living there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What Prof. Muller mentioned about Gandhiji was unfortunate as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King got the Nobel prize. And they were themselves a follower of Gandhi. It is very surprising that those who were inspired by Gandhi got the Nobel prize, but Gandhi did not.</p>

<p>Though Gandhi never expected any prize as an acknowledgment for his work.</p>

<p>After 1937, Gandhi was nominated in 1938 and 1939, but his name was not even shortlisted.</p>

<p>In 1947, it was expected that Gandhi will receive the Nobel but again the committee did not consider him.</p>

<p>It was happening because there were many powerful forces that were influencing the decisions of the Nobel Committee and there were some international media houses too behind this who acted against Gandhi&#39;s nomination.</p>

<p>Jens Arup Seip, the advisor of Nobel Prize Committee, supported Gandhi&#39;s case in 1947 but even then he did not receive the prize.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;Seip&#39;s report gives a detailed account of the events that happened during 1937 to 1947. In 1947, Gandhiji was one among other 6 listed candidates but over Gandhi&#39;s name, there was a huge conflict among the jury members.</p>

<p>During that time, Gandhiji said in a rally that, &quot;If such practice would continue that India might declare war against Pakistan&quot;</p>

<p>This report was published in Britain&#39;s newspaper &quot;The Times&quot; which went against Gandhi. Consequently, 3 of 5 jury members voted against him and Gandhi did not receive the Nobel Prize.</p>

<p>While the Nobel Committee kept itself busy trying to find violence in the non-violent politics of Mahatma, it did not hesitate to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt, a US president, had been a career soldier. He had participated in several wars but Nobel Committee chose to forget all that and focused only on Roosevelt&#39;s effort to stop the war between Russia and Japan in 1905.</p>

<p>In the year 1948, Gandhiji had a huge chance of winning the Nobel prize but 2 days before the announcement, Gandhi was assassinated. There had been no tradition of posthumous awarding of Nobel prize. Even then there was a buzz that Gandhi might be the first one to receive it after death but in absence of a trust or organisation which could have taken the prize in Gandhi&#39;s absence, the idea was aborted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That year the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to no one. On Gandhi&#39;s 70th death anniversary, the Nobel Committee paid its tribute to Gandhi, stating &quot;That year, the Nobel Committee decided to make no award on the grounds that &quot;there was no suitable living candidate&quot;. This definitely implies that Gandhi was the chosen candidate in 1948 and death robbed him of that honour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 1989, while awarding Dalai Lama of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Committee openly admitted that it was a mistake not to award Gandhiji.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhiji, history has proven, does not need the Nobel Prize to exercise his influence across the world. But the Nobel Committee needs Gandhiji to enhance its stature. If the Nobel Committee wants, it can rectify its past mistake easily. Even new laws can be brought about to honour a great man like Gandhiji. Perhaps, it is about time that the Nobel Committee considers Mahatma Gandhi as the first posthumous awardee of the Nobel Prize.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Colonial politics of the time, particularly the prejudice of the Nobel Committee and its lack of understanding of the many contradiction of Gandhi's political career robbed Mahatma Gandhi of Nobel Peace Prize.

On January 30th, 1948, Gandhiji was killed. This year marks his 70th death anniversary. Twice every year, on Gandhi's birthday on 2nd October and his death anniversary on 30 January, the country remembers the 'Father of the Nation'. Both these dates are celebrated amidst much fanfare; there are seminars and conferences across the country. Long lectures abound. Intellectuals and politicians prepare notes of their speeches based on Gandhi's ideas. But, sadly, soon with the end of these occasions, Gandhi's ideas are put into the freezer. India respects Gandhi but ignores his message Gandhiji's unifying role in bringing together a country as diverse as India is beyond question. However, his contribution has been largely forgotten by the state and the society. This collective amnesia is best proven in instances where government employees, unhesitatingly, take bribes in front of the framed pictures of Mahatma Gandhi which adorns almost all government offices of India. The blood of the common men of India fills up the pocket of these corrupt officials. They lie, prepare incorrect reports and fool the citizens of the nation. Possibly, all the major crossings of the country have a statue of Gandhiji. But that does not deter anyone from committing some of the heinous crimes on the roads and streets of India. Gandhi said, see no evil, speak no evil and don't listen to evil. However, we have learned not to pay heed to the most basic tenets of Gandhi's teachings. We continue, unhindered, to witness, speak and listen to evil. The civil society stands in full support whenever it feels the freedom of expression is threatened but no one is willing to take responsibility for expressing the ideas concerned. Gandhi's global influence In the history of human civilisation, Gandhi is unique for devising an unprecedented strategy of protest. He proved that one can oppose a powerful and oppressive regime without shedding a drop of blood. Without hurting anyone physically, through the most peaceful of means, one can bring about a change. Gandhi's ideas of non-violence and non-cooperation were an inspiration to the rest of the world. The human rights activist Martin Luther King who fought civil rights of the African-Americans took his political and ideological lessons from Gandhi. Similarly, South Africa's Nelson Mandela infused his politics with Gandhi's ideas and action plans. It is undeniable, how 70 years after his death, Gandhi continues to be relevant to the rest of the world. Barack Obama, the former US president, acknowledged Gandhi's influence on him. We will hardly find a political leader in India who ends his speech without mentioning or quoting Gandhi. Not to mention, one political family in India who retained power through decades using their 'Gandhi' surname. Notwithstanding the profound influence that Gandhi had across space and time, he did not receive the Nobel prize. Perhaps, Gandhi was bigger than the prize. But another question crops up whether there was a secret agenda that denied Gandhi of the Nobel Peace Prize. After all, the politics surrounding the Nobel Prize is pretty well known to anyone who cares to explore. Why did Gandhi not get the Nobel Peace Prize? Now, the committee responsible for awarding the Nobel prize regrets that they did not give Gandhi the award when he was alive and fighting for India's freedom against a mighty opponent. What people, generally, think is that Norway's Nobel Prize Committee did not want to upset the Britishers who were India's colonial master. But in reality, appeasement was not the only reason. Gandhi was nominated 5 times for the Nobel prize: in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and in 1948. In the first instance, a member of Norway's Parliament proposed Gandhi's name but it was overlooked by the committee. Our research revealed a letter written by Prof. Jacob Worm-Muller who served as a consultant advisor to the committee. Reading the letter makes it very clear that Worm-Muller praised Gandhi but he also mentioned that he can not trust the latter's personality. "He is undoubtedly a good, noble and ascetic person — a prominent man who is deservedly honored and loved by the masses of India. But there are sharp turns in his policies, which can hardly be satisfactorily explained by his followers. He is a freedom fighter and a dictator, an idealist and a nationalist. He is frequently a Christ, but then, suddenly, an ordinary politician" Jacob Muller presented his thought in the year 1937 in front of the Committee. There were a lot of people at that time who were unable to understand Gandhi's ideology. Because, on the one hand, he was living a life of a saint, on the other hand, he was a lawyer. Gandhi while speaking about truth, non-violence and morality, was also fully aware of the working of the colonial machinery. This knowledge of the colonial system enabled Mahatma to counter the colonial rule like a seasoned politician. This is what the Nobel Committee, perhaps, found confusing. Is Gandhi a saint or a politician. Prof. Muller also wrote that Gandhi was not completely non-violent. Muller said that Gandhi's nationalism is limited to the Indians. Even in South Africa, Gandhi's action was limited to the Indian communities living there. What Prof. Muller mentioned about Gandhiji was unfortunate as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King got the Nobel prize. And they were themselves a follower of Gandhi. It is very surprising that those who were inspired by Gandhi got the Nobel prize, but Gandhi did not. Though Gandhi never expected any prize as an acknowledgment for his work. After 1937, Gandhi was nominated in 1938 and 1939, but his name was not even shortlisted. In 1947, it was expected that Gandhi will receive the Nobel but again the committee did not consider him. It was happening because there were many powerful forces that were influencing the decisions of the Nobel Committee and there were some international media houses too behind this who acted against Gandhi's nomination. Jens Arup Seip, the advisor of Nobel Prize Committee, supported Gandhi's case in 1947 but even then he did not receive the prize. Seip's report gives a detailed account of the events that happened during 1937 to 1947. In 1947, Gandhiji was one among other 6 listed candidates but over Gandhi's name, there was a huge conflict among the jury members. During that time, Gandhiji said in a rally that, "If such practice would continue that India might declare war against Pakistan" This report was published in Britain's newspaper "The Times" which went against Gandhi. Consequently, 3 of 5 jury members voted against him and Gandhi did not receive the Nobel Prize. While the Nobel Committee kept itself busy trying to find violence in the non-violent politics of Mahatma, it did not hesitate to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt, a US president, had been a career soldier. He had participated in several wars but Nobel Committee chose to forget all that and focused only on Roosevelt's effort to stop the war between Russia and Japan in 1905. In the year 1948, Gandhiji had a huge chance of winning the Nobel prize but 2 days before the announcement, Gandhi was assassinated. There had been no tradition of posthumous awarding of Nobel prize. Even then there was a buzz that Gandhi might be the first one to receive it after death but in absence of a trust or organisation which could have taken the prize in Gandhi's absence, the idea was aborted. That year the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to no one. On Gandhi's 70th death anniversary, the Nobel Committee paid its tribute to Gandhi, stating "That year, the Nobel Committee decided to make no award on the grounds that "there was no suitable living candidate". This definitely implies that Gandhi was the chosen candidate in 1948 and death robbed him of that honour. In 1989, while awarding Dalai Lama of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Committee openly admitted that it was a mistake not to award Gandhiji. Gandhiji, history has proven, does not need the Nobel Prize to exercise his influence across the world. But the Nobel Committee needs Gandhiji to enhance its stature. If the Nobel Committee wants, it can rectify its past mistake easily. Even new laws can be brought about to honour a great man like Gandhiji. Perhaps, it is about time that the Nobel Committee considers Mahatma Gandhi as the first posthumous awardee of the Nobel Prize. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Why Gandhiji did not get the Nobel Prize

<p>After 70 years as an agricultural labourer, Gangappa, now around 83, has refashioned himself as Mahatma Gandhi. Since August 2016 he has been dressing up as Gandhi and positioning himself in public places across Anantapur town, in western Andhra Pradesh. The alms he is offered fetch him a better income than what he earned from agricultural labour.</p>

<p>&ldquo;When I am your age, I will also dress like you, swami,&rdquo; Gangappa claims to have told Gandhiji as a child when he met him on a visit to Anantapur. &ldquo;I was with my parents who were working on the Peruru tank as labourers at the time.&rdquo; Chennampalli, where Gangappa was born, is not too far from Peruru.&nbsp; Gandhi&#39;s capacity to achieve whatever he set out to, his ability to command the mightiest, had impressed the young Gangappa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although it is difficult to verify Gangappa&rsquo;s claim about the meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, or put a date to it, his memory of Gandhi drives his life. Gangappa loves to travel &ndash; travelling and patience are essential to becoming like Gandhi, he believes.</p>

<p>Gangappa (who goes only by this name) says his name is now Gangulappa because that&rsquo;s what people have been calling him by mistake. He wears a sacred thread across his chest to accentuate his Gandhi look. He applies&nbsp;<i>kumkum</i>&nbsp;to his forehead and on his feet, and sometimes acts priestly by blessing people with his hand, when in Gandhi costume.</p>

<p>His assumed caste identity has opened a local temple&rsquo;s doors to him. He is allowed to rest on the stone bench in the temple premises during the day. He takes a bath and washes off his make-up under the temple&rsquo;s taps.</p>

<p>Gangappa&rsquo;s relationship with his wife Middi Anjanamma and her family has been stressful for a decade. That was when their elder daughter committed suicide. &ldquo;I had gone to Kollapalli to dig pits in a forest. When I returned home my daughter had died.&rdquo; Tears roll down as he remembers his daughter, &ldquo;I still don&rsquo;t know why my daughter died. And no one tells me why she died. How can I go back to that family?&rdquo;</p>

<p>Although Anjanamma has not spoken to Gangappa for two years and hates his unpredictable ways, she misses him and wants him back now. &ldquo;Please ask him to come back. I don&rsquo;t have a mobile phone or money to buy coffee powder for the month. I don&rsquo;t have change for the children [their younger daughter&rsquo;s two sons] when they ask me.&rdquo; Anjanamma&nbsp; lives with her younger daughter in Gorantla, a village around 100 kilometres from Anantapur, where I met her.</p>

<p>After Gangappa left home, he continued labouring in the fields. He started drinking more alcohol. In 2016, he fainted while working in the fields. &ldquo;I stopped doing agricultural labour after Mala Punnami [an annual festival],&rdquo; Gangappa remembers. &ldquo;I braided ropes for a few days, but it didn&rsquo;t pay much.&rdquo;</p>

<p>That was when his memory of Gandhi came to him and he decided to reinvent himself.</p>

<p>Gangappa has improvised his Gandhi costume from everyday objects. He uses a 10-rupee plastic box of Pond&#39;s powder to make himself &ldquo;shine&rdquo; like Gandhi. Cheap sunglasses purchased from a roadside shop are his Gandhi spectacles. A 10-rupee cane from the local market is his walking stick. He uses a bike&rsquo;s rear-view mirror, which he found somewhere, to check his make-up and costume.</p>

<p>Gangappa mostly wore shorts when he worked in the fields. &ldquo;Now I wear a&nbsp;<i>dhoti</i>&nbsp;and shave my head once in three or four days,&rdquo; he says. Although he smokes and drinks, he makes sure he is clean when he dresses up as Gandhi. He travels to fairs and monthly markets in the surrounding villages and towns, earning anything between Rs. 150-600 a day. &ldquo;I made about 1,000 rupees in a day at one&nbsp;<i>parsha</i>&nbsp;[village fair] recently,&rdquo; he says proudly.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;I stood for six hours at a stretch today because it is Kadiri Punnami,&rdquo; he says. This is a festival celebrated in the villages in the Kadiri area of Anantapur district once a year, when the full moon is at its brightest.</p>

<p>Some months ago, when travelling to the nearby town of Puttaparthi, Gangappa had a chance meeting with Kuruba Pujamma, a widow in her 70s, who begged for alms on the 35 kilometres stretch between Puttaparthi and Penukonda. &ldquo;One evening when I was going home, I saw him sitting alone,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;I asked him what he does. He told me, and asked me if I wanted to go with him. I agreed. He said, &lsquo;Please come along. Wherever we go, I will show you around&#39;.&rdquo; So Pujamma began to trail along with Gangappa, helping him with his Gandhi costume, applying powder to his back, and washing his clothes.</p>

<p>Pujamma&rsquo;s partnership with Gangappa hasn&rsquo;t been easy. &ldquo;One night,&quot; she says, &quot;he went somewhere, and didn&rsquo;t return for a long time. I was alone. I felt really scared. There were people nearby and I was sitting under a metal shade. I wondered what to do. I felt like crying since I didn&rsquo;t have anyone now. He returned later, with dinner!&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

<p>Gangappa and Pujamma live on the outskirts of Anantapur town, close to the highway. They sleep outside a restaurant whose owner is an admirer of Gandhi. Gangappa usually wakes up around 5 a.m. and goes to bed by 9, just as he used to when he worked in the fields.</p>

<p>Sometimes Gangappa is provided dinner at the eatery outside which he sleeps. He buys something for breakfast from the roadside shops, and skips lunch. Gangappa makes sure Pujamma eats as well. And when he feels like a hearty meal, he buys ragi, rice and chicken, and Pujamma cooks up a feast of&nbsp;<i>muddha</i>&nbsp;[ragi and rice balls, a staple of the Rayalaseema region] and chicken curry on a makeshift stove on the road.</p>

<p>It&#39;s a simple life. And better than it used to be. Being Gandhi has meant that he no longer has to worry about his meals and shelter. However, Gangappa is saddened that not everybody reveres Gandhi these days. How can they not? &ldquo;A few young boys came to me and asked me to stop dressing like Gandhi,&rdquo; he remembers. &ldquo;The government is trying to remove Gandhi from the currency notes now, they said to me. Why do you want to dress up like him?&quot;</p>

<p><i>Postscript: Pujamma&nbsp;left Gangapapa to go home a &nbsp;few days ago. &quot;She left around the festival of Ugadi,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;She isn&#39;t coming back. She is going to beg there itself. I gave her 400 rupees. I have to be alone now.&quot;</i></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>This<a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/from-gangappa-to-gandhi" rel="nofollow" target="blank"> article</a> was originally published at <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">PARI</a></p>

<p>Photo courtesy<i>: Rahul M.</i></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Talcum powder, cheap spectacles, a walking stick, and a thread across his chest – and Gangappa is transformed into Gandhiji.

After 70 years as an agricultural labourer, Gangappa, now around 83, has refashioned himself as Mahatma Gandhi. Since August 2016 he has been dressing up as Gandhi and positioning himself in public places across Anantapur town, in western Andhra Pradesh. The alms he is offered fetch him a better income than what he earned from agricultural labour. “When I am your age, I will also dress like you, swami,” Gangappa claims to have told Gandhiji as a child when he met him on a visit to Anantapur. “I was with my parents who were working on the Peruru tank as labourers at the time.” Chennampalli, where Gangappa was born, is not too far from Peruru. Gandhi's capacity to achieve whatever he set out to, his ability to command the mightiest, had impressed the young Gangappa. Although it is difficult to verify Gangappa’s claim about the meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, or put a date to it, his memory of Gandhi drives his life. Gangappa loves to travel – travelling and patience are essential to becoming like Gandhi, he believes. Gangappa (who goes only by this name) says his name is now Gangulappa because that’s what people have been calling him by mistake. He wears a sacred thread across his chest to accentuate his Gandhi look. He applies kumkum to his forehead and on his feet, and sometimes acts priestly by blessing people with his hand, when in Gandhi costume. His assumed caste identity has opened a local temple’s doors to him. He is allowed to rest on the stone bench in the temple premises during the day. He takes a bath and washes off his make-up under the temple’s taps. Gangappa’s relationship with his wife Middi Anjanamma and her family has been stressful for a decade. That was when their elder daughter committed suicide. “I had gone to Kollapalli to dig pits in a forest. When I returned home my daughter had died.” Tears roll down as he remembers his daughter, “I still don’t know why my daughter died. And no one tells me why she died. How can I go back to that family?” Although Anjanamma has not spoken to Gangappa for two years and hates his unpredictable ways, she misses him and wants him back now. “Please ask him to come back. I don’t have a mobile phone or money to buy coffee powder for the month. I don’t have change for the children [their younger daughter’s two sons] when they ask me.” Anjanamma lives with her younger daughter in Gorantla, a village around 100 kilometres from Anantapur, where I met her. After Gangappa left home, he continued labouring in the fields. He started drinking more alcohol. In 2016, he fainted while working in the fields. “I stopped doing agricultural labour after Mala Punnami [an annual festival],” Gangappa remembers. “I braided ropes for a few days, but it didn’t pay much.” That was when his memory of Gandhi came to him and he decided to reinvent himself. Gangappa has improvised his Gandhi costume from everyday objects. He uses a 10-rupee plastic box of Pond's powder to make himself “shine” like Gandhi. Cheap sunglasses purchased from a roadside shop are his Gandhi spectacles. A 10-rupee cane from the local market is his walking stick. He uses a bike’s rear-view mirror, which he found somewhere, to check his make-up and costume. Gangappa mostly wore shorts when he worked in the fields. “Now I wear a dhoti and shave my head once in three or four days,” he says. Although he smokes and drinks, he makes sure he is clean when he dresses up as Gandhi. He travels to fairs and monthly markets in the surrounding villages and towns, earning anything between Rs. 150-600 a day. “I made about 1,000 rupees in a day at one parsha [village fair] recently,” he says proudly. “I stood for six hours at a stretch today because it is Kadiri Punnami,” he says. This is a festival celebrated in the villages in the Kadiri area of Anantapur district once a year, when the full moon is at its brightest. Some months ago, when travelling to the nearby town of Puttaparthi, Gangappa had a chance meeting with Kuruba Pujamma, a widow in her 70s, who begged for alms on the 35 kilometres stretch between Puttaparthi and Penukonda. “One evening when I was going home, I saw him sitting alone,” she says. “I asked him what he does. He told me, and asked me if I wanted to go with him. I agreed. He said, ‘Please come along. Wherever we go, I will show you around'.” So Pujamma began to trail along with Gangappa, helping him with his Gandhi costume, applying powder to his back, and washing his clothes. Pujamma’s partnership with Gangappa hasn’t been easy. “One night," she says, "he went somewhere, and didn’t return for a long time. I was alone. I felt really scared. There were people nearby and I was sitting under a metal shade. I wondered what to do. I felt like crying since I didn’t have anyone now. He returned later, with dinner!” Gangappa and Pujamma live on the outskirts of Anantapur town, close to the highway. They sleep outside a restaurant whose owner is an admirer of Gandhi. Gangappa usually wakes up around 5 a.m. and goes to bed by 9, just as he used to when he worked in the fields. Sometimes Gangappa is provided dinner at the eatery outside which he sleeps. He buys something for breakfast from the roadside shops, and skips lunch. Gangappa makes sure Pujamma eats as well. And when he feels like a hearty meal, he buys ragi, rice and chicken, and Pujamma cooks up a feast of muddha [ragi and rice balls, a staple of the Rayalaseema region] and chicken curry on a makeshift stove on the road. It's a simple life. And better than it used to be. Being Gandhi has meant that he no longer has to worry about his meals and shelter. However, Gangappa is saddened that not everybody reveres Gandhi these days. How can they not? “A few young boys came to me and asked me to stop dressing like Gandhi,” he remembers. “The government is trying to remove Gandhi from the currency notes now, they said to me. Why do you want to dress up like him?" Postscript: Pujamma left Gangapapa to go home a few days ago. "She left around the festival of Ugadi,” he said. “She isn't coming back. She is going to beg there itself. I gave her 400 rupees. I have to be alone now." This article was originally published at PARI Photo courtesy: Rahul M. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: From Gangappa to Gandhi, a labourer reinvents himself as the Mahatma

<p>It is the time we examined the society we have created before we invoke the rather trite argument of dynastic rule to stridently criticise the Gandhis and the Congress. No doubt, the dynasty is antithetical to democratic politics. Yet, it is also true that dynastic succession is the norm outside the Indian political realm as well. Its sheer pervasiveness explains why people dismiss outright the hypocritical media outcry against dynastic succession to routinely vote paterfamilias to power, in the state as well at the Centre.</p>

<p>Among the media personalities, arguably the most vocal critics of dynastic succession &ndash; and the Gandhis &ndash; are two stalwarts who are guilty of what they rail against. One of them is considered the diadem of Indian journalism &ndash; he became an editor at a young age, launched a classy newspaper, joined the Congress briefly, returned to journalism and now heads a weekly newspaper in which his son is an associate editor. The other acquired from a generous industrialist, now deceased, a newspaper more than a century old. He is a member of parliament and his son is now the newspaper&rsquo;s managing editor, presumably being groomed to take over from his father.</p>

<p>It is true the roles of political parties are remarkably different from those of newspapers. It is also possible the children of these two luminaries are prodigiously talented. It is conceivable their fathers, immune to the irresistible tug of paternal love, saw in them qualities they couldn&rsquo;t in anyone who could step into their posts. Such arguments, though, echo precisely the ones the Congressmen mouth to justify the assigning of party leadership to Rahul Gandhi. He is astonishingly talented, even nonpareil, Congressmen declare earnestly.</p>

<p>In contrast to the Congress, the two illustrious editors run private operations and enjoy an unassailable right to choose who oversees them. Nevertheless, for many in the profession, it could well appear as examples of powerful fathers subverting the idea of meritocracy, given their inevitable role in the appointment of their children.</p>

<p>Might it not have been better for them to have designations which did not vouch for their journalistic excellence and which did not indicate to others that there is &ldquo;space for eminence&rdquo; in the two organisations, &ldquo;but none for pre-eminence&rdquo;? (The words in quotes belong to one of the two who used it to criticise the appointment of Rahul Gandhi as the vice-president of the Congress.) To what extent is the ethos of the two media organisations any different from the Congress whose members claim they are entitled to run their party as they desire? And to think the media isn&rsquo;t just a profit-making enterprise but the watchdog of democracy!</p>

<p>Dynastic succession dominates the realm of religion as well. As you enter through the imposing gates of Delhi&rsquo;s Jama Masjid, from the Chandni Chowk side, you will read written on a board, in a reverential tone, that the descendants of the Bukhari family have been the Imams of the historic mosque for 13 generations, beginning from 1656. Who&rsquo;s to tell them that the idea of the hereditary imam is in gross violation of Islam, which decrees his selection through consultation and consensus?</p>

<p>Similarly, innumerable hallowed temples of India have the tradition of hereditary priests, usually belonging to the Brahmin caste, presiding over them. In 2006, the Tamil Nadu government of M Karunanidhi issued an order abrogating the unwritten principle of hereditary, familial succession to the priesthood, which was also opened to non-Brahmin castes. Obviously, the momentous nature of the order, irrespective of its eventual efficacy, was delightfully ironical, for Karunanidhi, too, acquiesced into the dynastic principle in politics.</p>

<p>Or take the scions of illustrious business families. Irrespective of their abilities, children often inherit companies their fathers or grandfathers established and in which ordinary shareholders are today heavily invested. Think of a businessman, owning a substantial share in an Indian corporation, who voluntarily chose to overlook his or her children at the time of passing the baton. Are we not acquainted with the phenomenon of doctors boasting flourishing clinics paying massive donation fees to ensure their children, unable to qualify for admission to government medical colleges, acquire the mandatory MBBS degree to take over from them?</p>

<p>At least, unlike editor-owners, priests and businessmen, the great political families of India can claim that they have to at least periodically pass the electoral test to acquire power. It is an argument Bollywood too could cite to justify their dynasties. Though children from these families don&rsquo;t have to struggle for a foothold in the Hindi film industry, the longevity of their career depends on their ability to satisfy the audience. Nevertheless, their presence in Bollywood, as is true of all dynasties in every field, concentrates power in a few, skews and stifles competition. This is true of even classical music, whose practitioners can narrate the debilitating impact ordinary children of extraordinary parents have had on the talented.</p>

<p>India&rsquo;s propensity to spawn dynasties testifies to the persistence of our feudal mindset, still intact due to our unconscionable socio-economic inequalities and the inherited ethos of our caste system, consequently ensuring the <em>raja-</em><em>praja</em> type of relationship thrives in different modern avatars. It is through the bridging of these inequalities that we can send dynasties packing, not through hurling blunted barbs at the Gandhis and others even though we are as guilty as they are.</p>

<p>This <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/central_south_asia/pot-calling-the-dynasty-black-ajaz-ashraf/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">article</a> has been originally published in <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Fair Observer</a>.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).</em></p>


India?s propensity to spawn dynasties testifies to the persistence of our feudal mindset, still intact due to our unconscionable socio-economic inequalities and the inherited ethos of our caste system

It is the time we examined the society we have created before we invoke the rather trite argument of dynastic rule to stridently criticise the Gandhis and the Congress. No doubt, the dynasty is antithetical to democratic politics. Yet, it is also true that dynastic succession is the norm outside the Indian political realm as well. Its sheer pervasiveness explains why people dismiss outright the hypocritical media outcry against dynastic succession to routinely vote paterfamilias to power, in the state as well at the Centre. Among the media personalities, arguably the most vocal critics of dynastic succession – and the Gandhis – are two stalwarts who are guilty of what they rail against. One of them is considered the diadem of Indian journalism – he became an editor at a young age, launched a classy newspaper, joined the Congress briefly, returned to journalism and now heads a weekly newspaper in which his son is an associate editor. The other acquired from a generous industrialist, now deceased, a newspaper more than a century old. He is a member of parliament and his son is now the newspaper’s managing editor, presumably being groomed to take over from his father. It is true the roles of political parties are remarkably different from those of newspapers. It is also possible the children of these two luminaries are prodigiously talented. It is conceivable their fathers, immune to the irresistible tug of paternal love, saw in them qualities they couldn’t in anyone who could step into their posts. Such arguments, though, echo precisely the ones the Congressmen mouth to justify the assigning of party leadership to Rahul Gandhi. He is astonishingly talented, even nonpareil, Congressmen declare earnestly. In contrast to the Congress, the two illustrious editors run private operations and enjoy an unassailable right to choose who oversees them. Nevertheless, for many in the profession, it could well appear as examples of powerful fathers subverting the idea of meritocracy, given their inevitable role in the appointment of their children. Might it not have been better for them to have designations which did not vouch for their journalistic excellence and which did not indicate to others that there is “space for eminence” in the two organisations, “but none for pre-eminence”? (The words in quotes belong to one of the two who used it to criticise the appointment of Rahul Gandhi as the vice-president of the Congress.) To what extent is the ethos of the two media organisations any different from the Congress whose members claim they are entitled to run their party as they desire? And to think the media isn’t just a profit-making enterprise but the watchdog of democracy! Dynastic succession dominates the realm of religion as well. As you enter through the imposing gates of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, from the Chandni Chowk side, you will read written on a board, in a reverential tone, that the descendants of the Bukhari family have been the Imams of the historic mosque for 13 generations, beginning from 1656. Who’s to tell them that the idea of the hereditary imam is in gross violation of Islam, which decrees his selection through consultation and consensus? Similarly, innumerable hallowed temples of India have the tradition of hereditary priests, usually belonging to the Brahmin caste, presiding over them. In 2006, the Tamil Nadu government of M Karunanidhi issued an order abrogating the unwritten principle of hereditary, familial succession to the priesthood, which was also opened to non-Brahmin castes. Obviously, the momentous nature of the order, irrespective of its eventual efficacy, was delightfully ironical, for Karunanidhi, too, acquiesced into the dynastic principle in politics. Or take the scions of illustrious business families. Irrespective of their abilities, children often inherit companies their fathers or grandfathers established and in which ordinary shareholders are today heavily invested. Think of a businessman, owning a substantial share in an Indian corporation, who voluntarily chose to overlook his or her children at the time of passing the baton. Are we not acquainted with the phenomenon of doctors boasting flourishing clinics paying massive donation fees to ensure their children, unable to qualify for admission to government medical colleges, acquire the mandatory MBBS degree to take over from them? At least, unlike editor-owners, priests and businessmen, the great political families of India can claim that they have to at least periodically pass the electoral test to acquire power. It is an argument Bollywood too could cite to justify their dynasties. Though children from these families don’t have to struggle for a foothold in the Hindi film industry, the longevity of their career depends on their ability to satisfy the audience. Nevertheless, their presence in Bollywood, as is true of all dynasties in every field, concentrates power in a few, skews and stifles competition. This is true of even classical music, whose practitioners can narrate the debilitating impact ordinary children of extraordinary parents have had on the talented. India’s propensity to spawn dynasties testifies to the persistence of our feudal mindset, still intact due to our unconscionable socio-economic inequalities and the inherited ethos of our caste system, consequently ensuring the raja-praja type of relationship thrives in different modern avatars. It is through the bridging of these inequalities that we can send dynasties packing, not through hurling blunted barbs at the Gandhis and others even though we are as guilty as they are. This article has been originally published in Fair Observer. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Critiquing Rahul Gandhi is like pot calling the dynasty black

<p>Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh&#39;s rebuke of demonetisation has risen out of the latter&#39;s compulsion to show allegiance to the Gandhi family.</p>

<p>&quot;This is Manmohan Singh&#39;s helplessness. Just to show allegiance to that family, he has to say wrong things. GDP figures have just come out and all his questions have been answered,&quot; Pradhan told ANI today.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, the former prime minister termed November 8 the day when the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 was implemented- as a &quot;black day&quot; for the economy and democracy of the country.</p>

<p>&quot;I invoke memories of more than 100 people who lost their lives while standing in queues as a result of demonetisation. I say with immense pain and a sense of deep responsibility that the 8th of November was a black day for our economy and democracy,&quot; Singh said at a press conference in Surat.</p>

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 on November 8, in a bid to curb the hoarding of black money in the country. The masses, however, were hard hit by the move, which suffered severe cash crunch and had to stand in long queues outside banks and ATMs, to withdraw money.</p>

<p>The impact of demonetisation on curbing corruption remains a bone of contention.</p>


Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh's rebuke of demonetisation has risen out of the latter's compulsion to show allegiance to the Gandhi family

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said that former prime minister Manmohan Singh's rebuke of demonetisation has risen out of the latter's compulsion to show allegiance to the Gandhi family. "This is Manmohan Singh's helplessness. Just to show allegiance to that family, he has to say wrong things. GDP figures have just come out and all his questions have been answered," Pradhan told ANI today. Earlier in the day, the former prime minister termed November 8 the day when the ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 was implemented- as a "black day" for the economy and democracy of the country. "I invoke memories of more than 100 people who lost their lives while standing in queues as a result of demonetisation. I say with immense pain and a sense of deep responsibility that the 8th of November was a black day for our economy and democracy," Singh said at a press conference in Surat. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 on November 8, in a bid to curb the hoarding of black money in the country. The masses, however, were hard hit by the move, which suffered severe cash crunch and had to stand in long queues outside banks and ATMs, to withdraw money. The impact of demonetisation on curbing corruption remains a bone of contention.

Manmohan Singh's rebuke of demonetisation is just sycophancy:  Dharmendra Pradhan

<p>How do you remember a person who passed away when you were nine-year-old? How do you evaluate a person of contemporary importance when all the relevant material has not been declassified? Lastly, how do you evaluate a former prime minister when you have never been friends with the friends of friends of Indira Gandhi?</p>

<p>The tool I will adopt will be that of an impression. The impressions which have stayed with me for the past 32 years or so. 30th October 1984 was my 9th birthday; the very next day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed. My childhood memory is marred by the grotesque images of deadly riots that followed her death. For one whole year, post her assassination, Delhi turned into a volatile city.</p>

<p>Impression, for the sake of clarity, is a collective body of knowledge formed out of whatever has been read, heard and compared. A good majority of Indians would recall Indira by comparing the present with what they think Indira did. Even people who never met her or read her, however, have an impression of her. I have read her and met people who worked with her but I would restrict myself to the impression which you get by talking to a large number of people who have neither read her nor met anybody who worked with Indira Gandhi.</p>

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<p>This article is neither an appraisal or evaluation of her tenure. It is about keywords used for remembering Indira Gandhi.</p>

<p>The crux of my impression, borne out of multiple conversations on Indira Gandhi as a child, student, journalist and as a reader, is that she was unapologetic about her politics. She was decisive and couldn&#39;t care less if a decision had to be taken.</p>

<p>Indira was powerful, enigmatic, secretive, strong decision-maker, nationalist, dictatorial, patriarchal and also a mother blinded by her love for sons. All these words never escaped any conversation on Indira.</p>

<p>&nbsp;A leader who dismembered Pakistan but blundered by sending tanks to the Golden temple. A person who robbed Indians of democracy but, despite pressure from her party, still went on to rescind the decision of Emergency. She decided to fight the election to be wiped out by the anti-Congress wave.</p>

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<h5>Indira&rsquo;s legacy, on one hand, is burdened by Operation Bluestar, dynastic politics and imposition of the Emergency.</h5>
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<p>If Indira&rsquo;s legacy, on one hand, is burdened by Operation Bluestar, dynastic politics and imposition of the Emergency, it is also counterbalanced by wiping away of the privy purses of the maharajas who were colonial remnants in modern India.</p>

<p>Though abolishment of the privy purse of India&#39;s royal families is not remembered as much as India&rsquo;s victory over Pakistan, the act helped to alter the political map of India. A plethora of former rulers turned against her.</p>

<p>If Indira&#39;s Opposition was tough then she was tougher. If the political enemy was vindictive then she was wicked. If her adversary was wicked and viscerally hated her, Indira responded by being dictatorial with them. We have to remember, Indira was a woman who survived entrenched patriarchy. She was the man in the Cabinet of men.</p>

<p>She didn&rsquo;t care for the consequence. Indira only cared for the result of her action. She did neither desire nor wanted to recreate altruistic element of her father&rsquo;s politics. Probably, she had seen him being cheated and then publically humiliated in Parliament. She wanted to make sure that she is never cheated and if cheated, consequences must follow.</p>

<p>Indira enjoyed real politics. She wrote letters and confided to her friends but never wrote for the public. She was not Jawaharlal Nehru. She turned her loneliness into her weapon. She was feared for her remoteness and she was appreciated for the same quality. She was appreciated for her strength and decisiveness but loathed when it became dictatorial. She was appreciated for her sartorial sense but rebuked when looked frigid in a beautiful saree. Indira&rsquo;s appraisal or evaluation is an exercise of involving minute details.</p>

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<h5>She bullied people and in turn also got paranoid and harassed by Opponents. She often crossed the line of political and personal.</h5>
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<p>The importance lies in the memories she evokes today and here lies a lesson for future leaders and parties. It is not without reason that her residence is still one of the most visited memorials in India. It is not without reason that battered Congress remembers her fondly for subsuming Hindu symbols rendering RSS politics facile. Indira unified and divided India at the same time. India loved and hated her at the same time. She was considered Durga and a demon at the same time. She was a woman who was used to doing her own things. She didn&rsquo;t give a damn. That&rsquo;s how people remembered her today. She was effective both when she was right or wrong.</p>

<p>I think all these exist today because she must have been unapologetic about her politics. It is for this reason India remembers Indira Gandhi. Great leaders are remembered for the decision they take. Indira Gandhi for good or bad took decisions. She forced decisions. She bullied people and in turn also got paranoid and harassed by opponents. She often crossed the line of political and personal.</p>

<p>I didn&rsquo;t know Indira personally nor can claim to have read every word written by her or on her. I know her decisions and impact it made on the Indian politics and economy. I know the impressions. I share her memories, true or false. This is how I remember. This how rest of unconnected India remember Indira. Unapologetic and gutsy.</p>


Indira Gandhi will be remembered for her decisions and impact of her decisions on the Indian politics and economy

How do you remember a person who passed away when you were nine-year-old? How do you evaluate a person of contemporary importance when all the relevant material has not been declassified? Lastly, how do you evaluate a former prime minister when you have never been friends with the friends of friends of Indira Gandhi? The tool I will adopt will be that of an impression. The impressions which have stayed with me for the past 32 years or so. 30th October 1984 was my 9th birthday; the very next day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed. My childhood memory is marred by the grotesque images of deadly riots that followed her death. For one whole year, post her assassination, Delhi turned into a volatile city. Impression, for the sake of clarity, is a collective body of knowledge formed out of whatever has been read, heard and compared. A good majority of Indians would recall Indira by comparing the present with what they think Indira did. Even people who never met her or read her, however, have an impression of her. I have read her and met people who worked with her but I would restrict myself to the impression which you get by talking to a large number of people who have neither read her nor met anybody who worked with Indira Gandhi. Indira was powerful, enigmatic, secretive, strong decision maker, nationalist, dictatorial, patriarchal and also a mother blinded by her love for sons. × This article is neither an appraisal or evaluation of her tenure. It is about keywords used for remembering Indira Gandhi. The crux of my impression, borne out of multiple conversations on Indira Gandhi as a child, student, journalist and as a reader, is that she was unapologetic about her politics. She was decisive and couldn't care less if a decision had to be taken. Indira was powerful, enigmatic, secretive, strong decision-maker, nationalist, dictatorial, patriarchal and also a mother blinded by her love for sons. All these words never escaped any conversation on Indira. A leader who dismembered Pakistan but blundered by sending tanks to the Golden temple. A person who robbed Indians of democracy but, despite pressure from her party, still went on to rescind the decision of Emergency. She decided to fight the election to be wiped out by the anti-Congress wave. Indira’s legacy, on one hand, is burdened by Operation Bluestar, dynastic politics and imposition of the Emergency. × If Indira’s legacy, on one hand, is burdened by Operation Bluestar, dynastic politics and imposition of the Emergency, it is also counterbalanced by wiping away of the privy purses of the maharajas who were colonial remnants in modern India. Though abolishment of the privy purse of India's royal families is not remembered as much as India’s victory over Pakistan, the act helped to alter the political map of India. A plethora of former rulers turned against her. If Indira's Opposition was tough then she was tougher. If the political enemy was vindictive then she was wicked. If her adversary was wicked and viscerally hated her, Indira responded by being dictatorial with them. We have to remember, Indira was a woman who survived entrenched patriarchy. She was the man in the Cabinet of men. She didn’t care for the consequence. Indira only cared for the result of her action. She did neither desire nor wanted to recreate altruistic element of her father’s politics. Probably, she had seen him being cheated and then publically humiliated in Parliament. She wanted to make sure that she is never cheated and if cheated, consequences must follow. Indira enjoyed real politics. She wrote letters and confided to her friends but never wrote for the public. She was not Jawaharlal Nehru. She turned her loneliness into her weapon. She was feared for her remoteness and she was appreciated for the same quality. She was appreciated for her strength and decisiveness but loathed when it became dictatorial. She was appreciated for her sartorial sense but rebuked when looked frigid in a beautiful saree. Indira’s appraisal or evaluation is an exercise of involving minute details. She bullied people and in turn also got paranoid and harassed by Opponents. She often crossed the line of political and personal. × The importance lies in the memories she evokes today and here lies a lesson for future leaders and parties. It is not without reason that her residence is still one of the most visited memorials in India. It is not without reason that battered Congress remembers her fondly for subsuming Hindu symbols rendering RSS politics facile. Indira unified and divided India at the same time. India loved and hated her at the same time. She was considered Durga and a demon at the same time. She was a woman who was used to doing her own things. She didn’t give a damn. That’s how people remembered her today. She was effective both when she was right or wrong. I think all these exist today because she must have been unapologetic about her politics. It is for this reason India remembers Indira Gandhi. Great leaders are remembered for the decision they take. Indira Gandhi for good or bad took decisions. She forced decisions. She bullied people and in turn also got paranoid and harassed by opponents. She often crossed the line of political and personal. I didn’t know Indira personally nor can claim to have read every word written by her or on her. I know her decisions and impact it made on the Indian politics and economy. I know the impressions. I share her memories, true or false. This is how I remember. This how rest of unconnected India remember Indira. Unapologetic and gutsy.

Remembering Indira: Unapologetic and gutsy

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that issues such as cleanliness and hygiene should not be politicised and asserted that even &#39;1,000 Mahatma Gandhis&#39;&nbsp;could not achieve the goal of a &#39;clean India&#39; without the participation of 125 crore Indians.</p>

<p>Addressing a gathering here to mark three years of the Swachh Bharat mission, he said he had been severely criticised when he had initiated the programme and stepped out with a broom to launch it.</p>

<p>Maintaining that it was essential for children to wash their hands before eating as unhygienic conditions had led to several children dying, the prime minister said when he flagged the issue people asked how they would get soap and water.</p>

<p>People went to the extent of saying that the Prime Minister was making these statements just for the purpose of making a speech, Modi said &quot;...If you have to abuse Modi, there are a thousand (other) issues...But we should neither make fun nor politicise issues which are meant to bring about change in society,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>People, including fellow politicians, had slammed him for &quot;spoiling&quot; children&#39;s October 2 holiday, Modi said.</p>

<p>&quot;We cannot achieve the target (of a Clean India) even if 1,000 Mahatma Gandhis, one lakh Narendra Modis, chief ministers and all governments come together. We can achieve it (only) when all 125 crore countrymen come together,&quot; Modi told the gathering.</p>

<p>Asserting that he was convinced that the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi could not be wrong, he said he had endured a lot of criticism.</p>

<p>&quot;But my nature is such that I endure a lot of things. My responsibility is such that I should endure. Slowly, I am increasing my capacity to endure (criticism)...For three years, without hesitation, I continued. I continued as I was sure that the path shown by the Mahatma and what he had said cannot be wrong,&quot; Modi said.</p>

<p>About five years ago, when children were seen cleaning their schools, it would create controversy with even parents criticising teachers. But now, children helping clean schools is seen as positive news, he added.</p>

<p>Soon, people who participate in cleanliness drives will not make news but pictures of those who stay away from it will be shown on television, Modi said.</p>

<p>The country had come a long way but a lot remained to be done before the &#39;clean India&#39; target could be achieved, Modi said.</p>

<p>He noted that the media and members of civil society had played a key role in propagating the importance of cleanliness. There was need for introspection if the programme had not gained the desired momentum, notwithstanding the support from these sections, he stressed.</p>

<p>Modi said the issue of cleanliness should be looked at from the prism of women, who face difficulties due to lack of toilets, and lauded children for being ambassadors of the key programme.</p>

<p>He said men find it easy to answer nature&#39;s call at any traffic junction. But women hold themselves back till they reach home.</p>

<p>Referring to the need for toilets, he said when women don&#39;t have access to toilets, they go out in the open at the crack of dawn and hold themselves back till sunset to defecate. This could lead to health problems for them.</p>

<p>The prime minister also asked people to not discourage those who were practising cleanliness if the government was telling them to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/should-introspect-if-swachh-bharat-abhiyan-doesnt-have-desired-momentum-pm-modi-on-gandhi-jayanti-20885" target="_blank">Should introspect if Clean India campaign doesn&#39;t have desired momentum: PM Modi on Gandhi Jayanti</a></p>


Modi added that issues like cleanliness and hygiene should not be politicised

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that issues such as cleanliness and hygiene should not be politicised and asserted that even '1,000 Mahatma Gandhis' could not achieve the goal of a 'clean India' without the participation of 125 crore Indians. Addressing a gathering here to mark three years of the Swachh Bharat mission, he said he had been severely criticised when he had initiated the programme and stepped out with a broom to launch it. Maintaining that it was essential for children to wash their hands before eating as unhygienic conditions had led to several children dying, the prime minister said when he flagged the issue people asked how they would get soap and water. People went to the extent of saying that the Prime Minister was making these statements just for the purpose of making a speech, Modi said "...If you have to abuse Modi, there are a thousand (other) issues...But we should neither make fun nor politicise issues which are meant to bring about change in society," he said. People, including fellow politicians, had slammed him for "spoiling" children's October 2 holiday, Modi said. "We cannot achieve the target (of a Clean India) even if 1,000 Mahatma Gandhis, one lakh Narendra Modis, chief ministers and all governments come together. We can achieve it (only) when all 125 crore countrymen come together," Modi told the gathering. Asserting that he was convinced that the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi could not be wrong, he said he had endured a lot of criticism. "But my nature is such that I endure a lot of things. My responsibility is such that I should endure. Slowly, I am increasing my capacity to endure (criticism)...For three years, without hesitation, I continued. I continued as I was sure that the path shown by the Mahatma and what he had said cannot be wrong," Modi said. About five years ago, when children were seen cleaning their schools, it would create controversy with even parents criticising teachers. But now, children helping clean schools is seen as positive news, he added. Soon, people who participate in cleanliness drives will not make news but pictures of those who stay away from it will be shown on television, Modi said. The country had come a long way but a lot remained to be done before the 'clean India' target could be achieved, Modi said. He noted that the media and members of civil society had played a key role in propagating the importance of cleanliness. There was need for introspection if the programme had not gained the desired momentum, notwithstanding the support from these sections, he stressed. Modi said the issue of cleanliness should be looked at from the prism of women, who face difficulties due to lack of toilets, and lauded children for being ambassadors of the key programme. He said men find it easy to answer nature's call at any traffic junction. But women hold themselves back till they reach home. Referring to the need for toilets, he said when women don't have access to toilets, they go out in the open at the crack of dawn and hold themselves back till sunset to defecate. This could lead to health problems for them. The prime minister also asked people to not discourage those who were practising cleanliness if the government was telling them to do so. Also read: Should introspect if Clean India campaign doesn't have desired momentum: PM Modi on Gandhi Jayanti

Even thousand Gandhis cannot clean India, says Modi, without support of 125 crore Indians

<p>A day after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/google-to-utilise-the-chinese-ai-19880">Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi announced his plans of visiting the United States to expand his knowledge on Artificial Intelligence,</a> the&nbsp;matter has become a subject of ridicule on Twitter.</p>

<p>The incident has attracted extensive reactions from people on the social networking site. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Twitterati has&nbsp;poked fun at Rahul Gandhi for his claims of expanding his knowledge&nbsp;in order to improve India&#39;s Artificial Intelligence.</p>

<p>One of the posts on twitter says &quot;Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/is-artificial-intelligence-boon-or-bane-4703">Artificial Intelligence</a>&nbsp;I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on Artificial Intelligence<br />
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I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer</p>
&mdash; Farrago Abdullah (@abdullah_0mar) <a href="https://twitter.com/abdullah_0mar/status/904756854907133952">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Recently Elon Musk warned the world that Artificial Intelligence may lead to third world war, however, a user made all those claims bogus after Rahul Gandhi&#39;s attempt on learning Artificial Intelligence.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Elon Musk: Artificial intelligence is a threat to humanity<br />
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*Rahul Gandhi speaks on AI*<br />
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Elon: I was wrong...this man is the greatest threat</p>
&mdash; InGenious (@Bees_Kut) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bees_Kut/status/904756483832725505">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Artificial Intelligence, the science of creating intelligent machines that think like human brains, is still in its nascent&nbsp;phase in India. However many other countries including China have already invested in the field.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reaction of Elon Musk when told Rahul Gandhi will be addressing Americans on Artificial Intelligence... <a href="https://t.co/ydk9qBKhB5">pic.twitter.com/ydk9qBKhB5</a></p>
&mdash; The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) <a href="https://twitter.com/KyaUkhaadLega/status/904743094083510274">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sequence Of Events:<br />
1. Putin:&quot;Leader In Artificial Intelligence Will Rule World&quot;<br />
2. Rahul Gandhi To Speak On AI<br />
3.Putin Takes His Words Back <a href="https://t.co/B4cpq735Vg">pic.twitter.com/B4cpq735Vg</a></p>
&mdash; Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) <a href="https://twitter.com/SirJadeja/status/904745946516398080">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When Robot heard Rahul Gandhi is coming to address on Artificial Intelligence ?? <a href="https://t.co/4aCZDzwsVT">pic.twitter.com/4aCZDzwsVT</a></p>
&mdash; Vishal Surywanshi (@vsurywanshi87) <a href="https://twitter.com/vsurywanshi87/status/904910281624584192">September 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mahatma Gandhi ji ne kaha tha, &quot;An AI for an AI will make the whole world blind&quot;<br />
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- Rahul Gandhi in his speech on Artificial Intelligence</p>
&mdash; Punk (@punk_hardik) <a href="https://twitter.com/punk_hardik/status/904777972028018688">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When World Leaders Came To Know Bambino Rahul Gandhi Is Going To Speak On <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArtificialIntelligence?src=hash">#ArtificialIntelligence</a> At US ! <a href="https://twitter.com/Swamy39">@Swamy39</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash">#Trump</a> ?????? h <a href="https://t.co/AXS0QIN60A">pic.twitter.com/AXS0QIN60A</a></p>
&mdash; Mahesh Joshi MJ (@MaheshJoshi_MJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaheshJoshi_MJ/status/905258162651004928">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The genius of Rahul Gandhi lies in how effectively he will blame Modi govt for suppressing Artificial Intelligence. ??</p>
&mdash; Sweetsie C2 (@itssitu) <a href="https://twitter.com/itssitu/status/905307672433524736">September 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prepration done by Rahul Gandhi to address a gathering on the topic &quot;Artificial intelligence&quot;. <a href="https://t.co/0wOSgctA9B">pic.twitter.com/0wOSgctA9B</a></p>
&mdash; IBN battuta (@theesmaarkhan) <a href="https://twitter.com/theesmaarkhan/status/904749917960151041">September 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/the-sultanate-has-gone-but-we-behave-as-if-we-are-sultans-still-jairam-ramesh-on-congress-party-18670"> Congress&nbsp;party&nbsp;source</a>, Rahul Gandhi wants India to excel in Artificial Intelligence.</p>


Twitterati has?poked fun at Rahul Gandhi for his claims of expanding his knowledge?in order to improve India's Artificial Intelligence

A day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi announced his plans of visiting the United States to expand his knowledge on Artificial Intelligence, the matter has become a subject of ridicule on Twitter. The incident has attracted extensive reactions from people on the social networking site. Twitterati has poked fun at Rahul Gandhi for his claims of expanding his knowledge in order to improve India's Artificial Intelligence. One of the posts on twitter says "Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on Artificial Intelligence I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer" Rahul Gandhi is going to deliver lecture on Artificial Intelligence I fear that Albert Einstein may come out of his grave to slap organizer — Farrago Abdullah (@abdullah_0mar) September 4, 2017 × Recently Elon Musk warned the world that Artificial Intelligence may lead to third world war, however, a user made all those claims bogus after Rahul Gandhi's attempt on learning Artificial Intelligence. Elon Musk: Artificial intelligence is a threat to humanity *Rahul Gandhi speaks on AI* Elon: I was wrong...this man is the greatest threat — InGenious (@Bees_Kut) September 4, 2017 × Artificial Intelligence, the science of creating intelligent machines that think like human brains, is still in its nascent phase in India. However many other countries including China have already invested in the field. Reaction of Elon Musk when told Rahul Gandhi will be addressing Americans on Artificial Intelligence... pic.twitter.com/ydk9qBKhB5 — The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) September 4, 2017 × Sequence Of Events: 1. Putin:"Leader In Artificial Intelligence Will Rule World" 2. Rahul Gandhi To Speak On AI 3.Putin Takes His Words Back pic.twitter.com/B4cpq735Vg — Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) September 4, 2017 × When Robot heard Rahul Gandhi is coming to address on Artificial Intelligence ?? pic.twitter.com/4aCZDzwsVT — Vishal Surywanshi (@vsurywanshi87) September 5, 2017 × Mahatma Gandhi ji ne kaha tha, "An AI for an AI will make the whole world blind" - Rahul Gandhi in his speech on Artificial Intelligence — Punk (@punk_hardik) September 4, 2017 × When World Leaders Came To Know Bambino Rahul Gandhi Is Going To Speak On #ArtificialIntelligence At US ! @Swamy39 #Trump ?????? h pic.twitter.com/AXS0QIN60A — Mahesh Joshi MJ (@MaheshJoshi_MJ) September 6, 2017 × The genius of Rahul Gandhi lies in how effectively he will blame Modi govt for suppressing Artificial Intelligence. ?? — Sweetsie C2 (@itssitu) September 6, 2017 × Prepration done by Rahul Gandhi to address a gathering on the topic "Artificial intelligence". pic.twitter.com/0wOSgctA9B — IBN battuta (@theesmaarkhan) September 4, 2017 × According to Congress party source, Rahul Gandhi wants India to excel in Artificial Intelligence.

How Twitter reacted to Rahul Gandhi's Artificial Intelligence learning

<p>A section of the CPM in West Bengal is not happy with the central leadership for backing combined Opposition vice-presidential candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who had criticised the role of the party during the height of Singur and Nandigram stir when he was the governor.</p>

<p>The decision to support Gandhi&#39;s candidature has not gone down well with a large section of state committee members and grassroot leaders, some of whom have expressed their anger in the party forum and some have taken to the social media to express displeasure.</p>

<p>The disgruntled leaders referred to Gandhi&#39;s opposition to &quot;forcible&quot;&nbsp;land acquisition in Singur in Hooghly district for setting up a Tata Motors small car factory and Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement.</p>

<p>They even went to the extent of describing him as &quot;partisan to Trinamool Congress&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;We really have no idea what our party leadership is upto. First, they decided to forge an alliance with the Congress and now they decide to support Gandhi,&quot; a CPM state committee leader told PTI on condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>&quot;How can the party forget the partisan role played by Gandhi between 2006 and 2009? This is absolute madness in the name of stopping the BJP. The party is digging its own grave,&quot; the leader felt.</p>

<p>Another senior CPM state committee leader, who had vehemently opposed the alliance with the Congress in the last Assembly polls, said, &quot;Last year our party leadership told us to forget about the neo-liberal policies and atrocities committed during Emergency by the Congress and instead align with it to stop the TMC and the BJP.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;Now we have decided to forgive Gandhi in order to stop the BJP. Next year the party might even ask us to forgive the TMC and align with it to stop the BJP,&quot; he said with his tongue firmly in cheek.</p>

<p>Defending the decision of his party&#39;s top brass, CPM&nbsp;politburo member Hannan Mollah told PTI that certain decisions were taken with an &quot;eye on a bigger perspective&quot; irrespective of the anger and heartburn that they might generate.</p>

<p>&quot;There might be anger or reservations about the decision. But these are collective decisions taken in our central committee and politburo. At times it is not about forgiving someone, but about taking a decision with an eye on a bigger perspective. Now the biggest enemy of the country is the RSS and the BJP, so in order to stop them we had to support him (Gandhi),&quot; Mollah told PTI.</p>

<p>Similarly, CPM state secretariat member Nepaldeb Bhattacharya said, &quot;Those who are criticising the party&#39;s decision are doing that keeping in mind the Bengal perspective. They may be right from their point of view. But if you think about a pan-India perspective, you will come to see that the party has taken the right decision.&quot;</p>

<p>Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the governor of West Bengal from December 2004 to December 2009. The relation between the governor and then CPM led Left Front government started deteriorating after Gandhi criticised the state government for &#39;forcible&#39; land acquisition in Singur and police firing in Nandigram that led to the death of 14 persons in 2007.</p>

<p>During Nandigram agitation in November, 2007 when alleged armed CPM supporters had violently taken over the area, he had said, &quot;Darkness descended during Deepavali in Nandigram.&quot;</p>

<p>The infuriated CPM top brass had then questioned his jurisdiction for commenting on Nandigram. Senior CPI-M leaders Biman Bose and Binoy Konar had criticised Gandhi accusing him of being partial towards the Trinamool Congress.</p>

<p>&quot;Go and pick up a Trinamool flag but have the decorum to get out of the Raj Bhavan and leave for good,&quot;&nbsp;party leaders had then told a public rally.&nbsp;</p>


Gandhi's opposition to 'forcible' land acquisition in Singur to set up a Tata Motors small car factory led to some calling him a 'partisan to Trinamool Congress'

A section of the CPM in West Bengal is not happy with the central leadership for backing combined Opposition vice-presidential candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who had criticised the role of the party during the height of Singur and Nandigram stir when he was the governor. The decision to support Gandhi's candidature has not gone down well with a large section of state committee members and grassroot leaders, some of whom have expressed their anger in the party forum and some have taken to the social media to express displeasure. The disgruntled leaders referred to Gandhi's opposition to "forcible" land acquisition in Singur in Hooghly district for setting up a Tata Motors small car factory and Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement. They even went to the extent of describing him as "partisan to Trinamool Congress". "We really have no idea what our party leadership is upto. First, they decided to forge an alliance with the Congress and now they decide to support Gandhi," a CPM state committee leader told PTI on condition of anonymity. "How can the party forget the partisan role played by Gandhi between 2006 and 2009? This is absolute madness in the name of stopping the BJP. The party is digging its own grave," the leader felt. Another senior CPM state committee leader, who had vehemently opposed the alliance with the Congress in the last Assembly polls, said, "Last year our party leadership told us to forget about the neo-liberal policies and atrocities committed during Emergency by the Congress and instead align with it to stop the TMC and the BJP." "Now we have decided to forgive Gandhi in order to stop the BJP. Next year the party might even ask us to forgive the TMC and align with it to stop the BJP," he said with his tongue firmly in cheek. Defending the decision of his party's top brass, CPM politburo member Hannan Mollah told PTI that certain decisions were taken with an "eye on a bigger perspective" irrespective of the anger and heartburn that they might generate. "There might be anger or reservations about the decision. But these are collective decisions taken in our central committee and politburo. At times it is not about forgiving someone, but about taking a decision with an eye on a bigger perspective. Now the biggest enemy of the country is the RSS and the BJP, so in order to stop them we had to support him (Gandhi)," Mollah told PTI. Similarly, CPM state secretariat member Nepaldeb Bhattacharya said, "Those who are criticising the party's decision are doing that keeping in mind the Bengal perspective. They may be right from their point of view. But if you think about a pan-India perspective, you will come to see that the party has taken the right decision." Gopalkrishna Gandhi was the governor of West Bengal from December 2004 to December 2009. The relation between the governor and then CPM led Left Front government started deteriorating after Gandhi criticised the state government for 'forcible' land acquisition in Singur and police firing in Nandigram that led to the death of 14 persons in 2007. During Nandigram agitation in November, 2007 when alleged armed CPM supporters had violently taken over the area, he had said, "Darkness descended during Deepavali in Nandigram." The infuriated CPM top brass had then questioned his jurisdiction for commenting on Nandigram. Senior CPI-M leaders Biman Bose and Binoy Konar had criticised Gandhi accusing him of being partial towards the Trinamool Congress. "Go and pick up a Trinamool flag but have the decorum to get out of the Raj Bhavan and leave for good," party leaders had then told a public rally.

President post: Section of Bengal CPM not happy with support for Gopalkrishna Gandhi

<p>Anil Vij, a senior member of India&#39;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has withdrawn his controversial comments that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a bigger brand than Mahatma Gandhi.</p>

<p>The BJP leader had invoked outrage after he said on Saturday that India&#39;s khadi industry could not progress because of Mahatma Gandhi&#39;s association with the brand. He further said that the father of the nation, as Mahatma Gandhi is popularly called for spearheading India&#39;s freedom struggle, would be removed from currency notes as well.</p>

<p>&quot;Since the time Gandhi&#39;s name got associated with Khadi...it could not progress. The day Mahatma Gandhi came on the rupee, its devaluation started. Gradually, he will be removed from the notes also. It&#39;s good that Gandhi has been replaced with Modi...Modi is a bigger brand name. After Modi&#39;s association with khadi, there has been 14 per cent increase in sale of the products,&quot; Vij had said.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Good that Mahatma was replaced by Modi on khadi calendar,Gandhi will also gradually be removed from currency notes says Haryana Min Anil Vij <a href="https://t.co/e8AXr7WJFw">pic.twitter.com/e8AXr7WJFw</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/820183201364574209">January 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He commented after India&#39;s khadi sector regulator recently replaced Gandhi&#39;s iconic &#39;<em>charkha</em>&#39; (spinning wheel) picture with Modi on their annual table diaries and calendars -- a change that triggered a cascade of criticism.</p>

<p>The BJP, including Haryana chief minister ML Khattar, &#39;strongly condemned&#39; the minister&#39;s remarks and distanced themselves from him.&nbsp;<br />
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&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP strongly condemns statement of Anil Vij,its his personal remark &amp; not party&#39;s stand. Mahatma Gandhi is our icon: Shrikant Sharma,BJP <a href="https://t.co/WX1IQZUlFo">pic.twitter.com/WX1IQZUlFo</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/820185303541420033">January 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It is his personal opinion and has nothing to do with the party: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Anil Vij <a href="https://t.co/Cg9RDv5dG2">pic.twitter.com/Cg9RDv5dG2</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/820186547169345536">January 14, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress, the de facto official party and the party Gandhi was a member of, also excoriated Vij. &quot;One can only expect such kind of objectionable and nonsensical statements from BJP&#39;s leaders and ministers,&quot; Congress leader RS Surjewala said.</p>

<p>The Congress accused the BJP of resorting to &quot;divisive politics&quot; and said Modi was trying to project himself as &quot;bigger than Mahatma Gandhi&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;BJP believes in hatred and divisive politics. It is unfortunate that now Narendra Modi is trying to portray himself bigger than Mahatma Gandhi,&quot; Surjewala further said.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, sources told ANI on Friday there was no question of replacing Mahatma Gandhi&#39;s picture with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;There was no picture of Mahatma Gandhi on KVIC diary or calendar in the year 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, so there is no question of replacing his picture with that of Modi,&quot; said unnamed sources.<br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from ANI)</p>


Haryana cabinet minister Anil Vij had earlier said that Gandhi would be gradually replaced from currency notes too

Anil Vij, a senior member of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has withdrawn his controversial comments that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a bigger brand than Mahatma Gandhi. The BJP leader had invoked outrage after he said on Saturday that India's khadi industry could not progress because of Mahatma Gandhi's association with the brand. He further said that the father of the nation, as Mahatma Gandhi is popularly called for spearheading India's freedom struggle, would be removed from currency notes as well. "Since the time Gandhi's name got associated with Khadi...it could not progress. The day Mahatma Gandhi came on the rupee, its devaluation started. Gradually, he will be removed from the notes also. It's good that Gandhi has been replaced with Modi...Modi is a bigger brand name. After Modi's association with khadi, there has been 14 per cent increase in sale of the products," Vij had said. Good that Mahatma was replaced by Modi on khadi calendar,Gandhi will also gradually be removed from currency notes says Haryana Min Anil Vij pic.twitter.com/e8AXr7WJFw — ANI (@ANI_news) January 14, 2017 × × He commented after India's khadi sector regulator recently replaced Gandhi's iconic 'charkha' (spinning wheel) picture with Modi on their annual table diaries and calendars -- a change that triggered a cascade of criticism. The BJP, including Haryana chief minister ML Khattar, 'strongly condemned' the minister's remarks and distanced themselves from him. BJP strongly condemns statement of Anil Vij,its his personal remark & not party's stand. Mahatma Gandhi is our icon: Shrikant Sharma,BJP pic.twitter.com/WX1IQZUlFo — ANI (@ANI_news) January 14, 2017 × It is his personal opinion and has nothing to do with the party: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Anil Vij pic.twitter.com/Cg9RDv5dG2 — ANI (@ANI_news) January 14, 2017 × The Congress, the de facto official party and the party Gandhi was a member of, also excoriated Vij. "One can only expect such kind of objectionable and nonsensical statements from BJP's leaders and ministers," Congress leader RS Surjewala said. The Congress accused the BJP of resorting to "divisive politics" and said Modi was trying to project himself as "bigger than Mahatma Gandhi". "BJP believes in hatred and divisive politics. It is unfortunate that now Narendra Modi is trying to portray himself bigger than Mahatma Gandhi," Surjewala further said. Meanwhile, sources told ANI on Friday there was no question of replacing Mahatma Gandhi's picture with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "There was no picture of Mahatma Gandhi on KVIC diary or calendar in the year 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, so there is no question of replacing his picture with that of Modi," said unnamed sources. (WION with inputs from ANI)

BJP leader says Modi bigger brand than Mahatma Gandhi, later retracts

Launching an offensive against the Prime Minister over price rise, Rahul Gandhi today said after coming to power Narendra Modi has ignored the issue and demanded that he should give a date by when the prices of pulses will drop.&nbsp;<br />
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&quot;You may make as many hollow promises as you want, but give us a date by when the prices of daal will come down,&quot; Gandhi said in Lok Sabha during a debate on price rise.<br />
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In his first major intervention in the monsoon session, Gandhi said the price of pulses and vegetables have gone over the roof after NDA came to power, and farmers have not been able to get any benefit of the steep rise in the price of these commodities.<br />
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Recalling Modi&#39;s speech at a poll rally in Himachal Pradesh in February 2014, Gandhi said while attacking the then UPA government over the issue, he had said that &quot;Ma-bachche raat raat rote hain, aasoon pee ke sote hain&quot; (mother and child cry the whole night and sleep drinking their tears).<br />
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&quot;What a dialogue,&quot; Gandhi said thrice, taking a dig at Modi who was not present in the House.<br />
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&quot;I want to remind the Prime Minister of the promises he made to people of the country during the poll campaign, which Modiji does not talk about now and has forgotten. He had also promised that when the BJP government comes to power, it will bring down the prices,&quot; Gandhi said.<br />
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Listing out the prices of vegetables and pulses, Gandhi said in 2014, the price of tomato was Rs 18, which has shot up to Rs 55 in 2016. Urad and tur dal, priced at Rs 70 and 75 in February 2014, has gone up to Rs 160 and Rs 180 this month.<br />
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He said there was a gap between the minimum support price for tur dal given to the farmers. It was Rs 45 whereas its price in the market was Rs 75. Now, the MSP has risen to Rs 50, but the price of the pulses is now Rs 180.&nbsp;<br />
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&quot;So, there is a gap of Rs 130 in the NDA government. Where is this Rs 100 going?&quot; Gandhi asked. &quot;During elections, Modiji had said, &#39;Make me a chowkidar&#39; (watchman).&nbsp;Now, there is a theft of dal under the very nose of the chowkidar. But the chowkidar has not uttered a word. He is mum. Now he has become a big person. Leave that job of chowkidari to the Congress,&quot; Gandhi said.&nbsp;<br />
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In reference to a BJP slogan &#39;Har Har Modi&#39; used during the Lok Sabha polls, he said, &quot;Now people are saying &#39;Arhar Modi&#39;.&quot; Taking a jibe at NDA&#39;s second birthday celebrations, the Congress vice president said the Prime Minister did not even utter a single word about rising prices during this event, and sought to know why.<br />
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Accusing the government of waiving off Rs 52,000 crore of the corporates, Gandhi asked what benefit the government has given to the farmers and housewives of the savings amounting to Rs 2 lakh crore it has made from the slump in the crude prices. He also questioned NDA&#39;s flagship programmes like Make in India, Stand Up India and said, &quot;The &#39;Make in India&#39; programme has not got given a single job to the youth&quot;.<br />
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(PTI)

The Congress vice president said the PM did not even utter a single word about rising prices. 'Now people are saying 'Arhar Modi''

Launching an offensive against the Prime Minister over price rise, Rahul Gandhi today said after coming to power Narendra Modi has ignored the issue and demanded that he should give a date by when the prices of pulses will drop. "You may make as many hollow promises as you want, but give us a date by when the prices of daal will come down," Gandhi said in Lok Sabha during a debate on price rise. In his first major intervention in the monsoon session, Gandhi said the price of pulses and vegetables have gone over the roof after NDA came to power, and farmers have not been able to get any benefit of the steep rise in the price of these commodities. Recalling Modi's speech at a poll rally in Himachal Pradesh in February 2014, Gandhi said while attacking the then UPA government over the issue, he had said that "Ma-bachche raat raat rote hain, aasoon pee ke sote hain" (mother and child cry the whole night and sleep drinking their tears). "What a dialogue," Gandhi said thrice, taking a dig at Modi who was not present in the House. "I want to remind the Prime Minister of the promises he made to people of the country during the poll campaign, which Modiji does not talk about now and has forgotten. He had also promised that when the BJP government comes to power, it will bring down the prices," Gandhi said. Listing out the prices of vegetables and pulses, Gandhi said in 2014, the price of tomato was Rs 18, which has shot up to Rs 55 in 2016. Urad and tur dal, priced at Rs 70 and 75 in February 2014, has gone up to Rs 160 and Rs 180 this month. He said there was a gap between the minimum support price for tur dal given to the farmers. It was Rs 45 whereas its price in the market was Rs 75. Now, the MSP has risen to Rs 50, but the price of the pulses is now Rs 180. "So, there is a gap of Rs 130 in the NDA government. Where is this Rs 100 going?" Gandhi asked. "During elections, Modiji had said, 'Make me a chowkidar' (watchman). Now, there is a theft of dal under the very nose of the chowkidar. But the chowkidar has not uttered a word. He is mum. Now he has become a big person. Leave that job of chowkidari to the Congress," Gandhi said. In reference to a BJP slogan 'Har Har Modi' used during the Lok Sabha polls, he said, "Now people are saying 'Arhar Modi'." Taking a jibe at NDA's second birthday celebrations, the Congress vice president said the Prime Minister did not even utter a single word about rising prices during this event, and sought to know why. Accusing the government of waiving off Rs 52,000 crore of the corporates, Gandhi asked what benefit the government has given to the farmers and housewives of the savings amounting to Rs 2 lakh crore it has made from the slump in the crude prices. He also questioned NDA's flagship programmes like Make in India, Stand Up India and said, "The 'Make in India' programme has not got given a single job to the youth". (PTI)

Give a date by when pulses price will decline: Gandhi scion tells Indian Prime Minister Modi

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